Busan City and Kyobo Book Centre Host Reading Marathon to Support 2030 Busan World Expo Bid

Held for 8 months from March 13 to October 31

43 must-read books including 'Exhibition of Imagination, Expo'

Complete 42.195 km across 8 courses themed on '8 Best of Busan Tourism'

Busan City and Kyobo Book Centre (CEO An Byung-hyun) will hold the "2030 Busan World Expo Bid Reading Marathon" for about eight months from March 13 to October 31.

Cover of the 2023 Reading Marathon Event for the Support of the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid (Front, Back).

This reading marathon is organized through public-private cooperation to establish a healthy reading culture and to spread nationwide support and consensus in the year when the decision to host the 2030 Busan World Expo will be made.

The reading marathon calculates approximately 1 km per book read, and participants complete the full 42.195 km distance by reading a total of 43 books, including the required reading "The Imagination Exhibition Hall, Expo" (author Oh Ryong) and freely chosen books.

Anyone can participate in the marathon by receiving a reading log at Kyobo Book Centre’s Busan branch or Centum City branch, writing book reports, and completing each course.

The marathon courses are themed around the "Busan Tourism 8 Selections," which were selected as one of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s 100 Best Attractions in Korea for 2023?2024, to introduce the charm and tourist resources of Busan, the candidate city for hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo.

▲ Course 1 is Taejongdae Resort Park ▲ Course 2 is Haeundae & Songjeong Beaches ▲ Course 3 is Gamcheon Culture Village ▲ Course 4 is Yongdusan and Jagalchi Tourist District ▲ Course 5 is Yonggung Cloud Bridge & Songdo Beach ▲ Course 6 is Osiria Tourist Complex ▲ Course 7 is X the Sky & Green Railway ▲ Course 8 is Gwangalli Beach & SUP Zone.

Participants who complete all eight reading logs themed on the "Busan Tourism 8 Selections" and finish the full 42.195 km will receive a reading marathon completion certificate and medal, awarded to the first 42 finishers. Additionally, those who complete each course’s reading will receive book purchase support funds on a first-come, first-served basis.

The city expects that by selecting "The Imagination Exhibition Hall, Expo" as the required reading, citizens will learn about the background of Busan’s bid for the registered expo, the historical significance of hosting the World Expo, urban development strategies linked to the redevelopment of the North Port, and Busan’s geopolitical value as a global event host.

Especially since this marathon is not a competitive event ranking participants but focuses on completing the target number of books, it is expected to enhance citizens’ understanding of the World Expo’s core values of education, cooperation, and innovation.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “This year is a crucial time when the final decision on hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo will be announced, and various citizen participation events are currently underway through public-private collaboration.” He added, “We will continue to offer diverse citizen participation programs that provide unique experiences related to the 2030 Busan World Expo and foster public consensus for the bid.”

Mayor Park also stated, “Each citizen is the main agent of Korea’s future nation,” and requested, “From welcoming the inspection team’s visit in April to the bid decision in November, I ask all citizens to assist with mature civic awareness in hosting the inspection team and throughout the entire process to ensure victory.”

"The Imagination Exhibition Hall, Expo" is a book jointly published by Busan City and the 2030 Busan World Expo Citizens’ Bid Committee. It introduces Busan’s registered expo bid not merely as an international event but as a historic and civilizational event that presents humanity’s progress, peace, and future.