Jang Sung-min Pushes for Busan Expo Hosting at UN Ocean Conference... Meets Representatives from 34 Countries

John Kerry, U.S. Climate Envoy, Meets with Portuguese President
"Presenting a Global Environmental Future Vision on Oceans and Climate Change"

Jang Sung-min, Policy Coordination Officer at the Presidential Office, visited Lisbon, Portugal to attend the 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference and met with John Kerry, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, to request support for hosting the 2030 World Expo in Busan. / Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Jang Sung-min, Policy Coordination and Planning Officer of the Presidential Office, visited Lisbon, Portugal to attend the 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference and held a meeting with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal, requesting support for hosting the 2030 World Expo in Busan.
Photo by Ministry of Foreign Affairs

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office is intensifying its promotional campaign to attract the 2030 World Expo to Busan.

On the 30th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a press release stating that Jang Sung-min, Policy Coordination Officer of the Presidential Office, visited Lisbon, Portugal, to attend the 2nd United Nations Ocean Conference, which opened on the 27th, and met with delegations from 34 countries until the previous day to promote the bid for the 2030 World Expo.

He emphasized to the delegations that South Korea’s diplomacy aims for a "global standard as global citizens" responding to climate change based on the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. The concept of global citizens is a core value presented in President Yoon Suk-yeol’s inaugural speech and the current administration’s key principle.

Through a bilateral meeting with John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, Officer Jang requested U.S. support, explaining that Busan, as a global hub for transportation and logistics, plans to present a future vision addressing global environmental challenges such as oceans and climate change by hosting the 2030 World Expo.

In addition to meetings with numerous heads of state including Colombia (President Duque), Namibia (Prime Minister Kuugongelwa), Angola (President Louren?o), Palau (President Whipps), and Tanzania (Vice President Mpango), he also held 16 separate bilateral meetings with various environment and foreign ministers and deputy ministers from different countries.

Officer Jang also attended the Ocean Conference plenary session and reception, engaging in one-on-one contacts with numerous delegations including Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Monaco’s Prince Albert II, as well as representatives from Japan, Switzerland, Qatar, Senegal, New Zealand, Vietnam, Israel, and Venezuela, continuing his vigorous schedule to promote Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo.

The United Nations Ocean Conference, a high-level UN meeting aimed at achieving Sustainable Development Goal 14 focused on marine environment and resource conservation and sustainable use, held its 2nd conference in Lisbon, Portugal, following the 1st conference at the UN Headquarters in New York in June 2017. The conference was attended by 193 UN member states, the European Union (EU) representatives, UN agencies, and international NGOs.

The South Korean government announced that it will continue to conduct all-out diplomacy to attract the 2030 Busan World Expo through various opportunities, including participation in this conference.