Expo Bid Accelerates in Busan... Park Hyung-jun: "Showcasing South Korea's Grandeur to the World"

Mayor Park's First Overseas Schedule After Inauguration: Submission of Application to 'International Expo District'
Joining Forces with Political, Government, and Business Sectors to Concentrate Capabilities... Full Effort in Promotion via SNS for Hosting Bid

Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon, Chairman of the Bid Committee Kim Young-joo, and other attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the inaugural general meeting of the "2030 Busan World Expo Bid Committee" held on the 13th at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul. The inaugural meeting was attended by Chairman of the Bid Committee Kim Young-joo, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Moon Seung-wook, Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon, Samsung Electronics President Lee In-yong, Hyundai Motor Company President Gong Young-woon, Chairman of the Korea International Trade Association Koo Ja-yeol, Chairman of the Korea Employers Federation Sohn Kyung-shik, and others. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Busan Metropolitan City has embarked on a full-scale campaign to host the '2030 Busan World Expo.' Since taking office, Mayor Park Hyung-jun made his first overseas trip to Paris, France, where the International Bureau of Expositions is located, to submit the bid application. He is now joining forces with political, governmental, and business sectors to pool their capabilities. Since August, he has also taken the lead in the '#TogetherWithIsambu' relay campaign, actively promoting the event on social networking services (SNS).

According to Busan City on the 17th, the city plans to establish a basic plan for the bid promotion together with the central government by December this year and submit the final bid plan by June next year. If Busan succeeds in hosting the Expo in June 2023, it will become the first registered Expo held in Korea. Busan City explains that during the six months of the Expo, more than 50 million people from 200 countries are expected to visit Busan, generating a production inducement effect of 43 trillion KRW, creating added value worth 18 trillion KRW, and inducing employment for 500,000 people.

The bid organization is expanding to include political, governmental, and business sectors. Former Korea International Trade Association Chairman Kim Young-joo was appointed as the chairman of the bid committee for the Busan Expo and recently reported to the president. Chairman Chung Mong-joon of the Asan Foundation was named as an advisor to the committee. Senior members appointed include Lee In-yong, President of Samsung Electronics; Gong Young-woon, President of Hyundai Motor Company; Jang Dong-hyun, President of SK; and Lee Dong-woo, President of Lotte Holdings. Yeoh Han-gu, Director-General of Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Choi Jong-moon, Second Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Kim Yoon-il, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Busan City, have taken roles as executive committee members.

Mayor Park’s pace is also quickening. On the 14th, he attended the 40th Cabinet Meeting and reported on the progress of the bid activities through the bid committee established in July, requesting active government support. He stated, "Since the bidding schedule has been moved up and is tight, I ask for the government’s active interest and support so that all citizens can unite in cheering for the successful hosting of the Busan World Expo."

Busan City plans to develop differentiated content, as the competitiveness of countries expected to apply for hosting, such as Moscow, Russia; Rome, Italy; and Barcelona, Spain, is formidable. The city aims to secure a competitive edge by developing content distinct from previous Expos and organizing the Expo site, while promoting enhanced accessibility to 169 countries through virtual exhibition halls, the construction of Gadeok New Airport, and the provision of urban high-speed transportation.

A 'bid governance' system will be established to fully mobilize national diplomatic capabilities, and the public-private cooperation system will be strengthened. Mayor Park plans to actively utilize a Busan-style Official Development Assistance (ODA) program linked with various domestic and international diplomatic and cultural events, benchmarking Japan’s success in winning the 2025 Osaka Expo by pledging ODA programs to participating countries. Furthermore, a wide-area response system will be created to foster solidarity and cooperation among the local governments of Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, the regional economy, and local residents.

Mayor Park said, "Hosting the 2020 Busan World Expo is not just about holding an event; it is a solution to proudly declare the stature of an advanced Korea to the world and to open a new era of balanced national development." He added, "With the mindset that it must succeed, I will do my best in government cooperation, the bid committee, and overseas negotiations."