[Report] Busan Transforms into an 'Eco-friendly and Climate Change City' Ahead of Expo Site Inspection from Next Month 2 to 7

Expo Hosting Fever in Busan
Over 20,000,000 Participants from 200+ Countries
Economic Ripple Effect Estimated at 61 Trillion Won
Phase 1 & 2 Redevelopment of Bukhang Area in Full Swing
Competing with Oil Money from Saudi Arabia and Others
Addressing Climate Change and Eco-Friendly Agendas
Decision After 5th Competitive PT in November

At 3 p.m. on the 21st, at Jaseongdae Pier on Chungjang-daero, Dong-gu, Busan Metropolitan City (Hutchison Terminal).

Amid the humid weather of 18.8℃ and a sky filled with mist, a gantry crane (a crane erected on top of supports used to traverse the workspace) moved with vibrations and noise. This terminal, covering a total area of 624,000㎡, was in the process of relocating to the new Gamman Pier located in the southwest offshore, aiming for completion by the end of this year. If Busan’s hosting of the 2030 Expo is confirmed in November, it will transform into a world exposition venue attended by 200 countries and 34.8 million people.

Jaseongdae Pier, where port relocation work is underway to attract the Busan Expo (Photo by Gu Chae-eun)

Riding the port shuttle operated by Busan Port Authority, starting from the International Passenger Terminal, we circled the North Port redevelopment area clockwise in a 'T' shape. Passing the Opera House, which has revealed its skeleton with over 40% progress, then along Piers 7 and 8, and Gamman Citizen Pier, crossing the Busan Harbor Bridge, the new Gamman Pier and Sinsundae Pier came into full view opposite Bongrae Mountain, which stands 392 meters tall. This area, spanning 3.43 million㎡ in the North Port district, has entered full-scale development with Phase 1 (1.53 million㎡) and Phase 2 (1.57 million㎡) of the North Port redevelopment project ahead of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) inspection scheduled for next month from the 2nd to the 7th.

To attract the Busan 2030 Expo, which is expected to generate '18 trillion won in added value, 500,000 jobs, and 43 trillion won in production inducement effects,' the North Port area of Busan Port is rapidly transforming. Busan City plans to hold the Expo on port land close to the old downtown area to promote regional development effects while minimizing environmental damage, emphasizing the Expo’s theme of ‘Sustainable Life with Nature’ as a key space.

Indeed, on the 21st and 22nd, various parts of Dong-gu, Busan, were abuzz with the atmosphere of building an eco-friendly, renewable, and hydrogen energy ecosystem to enhance competitiveness for the ‘2030 World Expo bid.’ Busan City is working to convert about 1,000 city and commuter buses to hydrogen buses by 2025. Hydrogen buses running throughout the city were noticeable. In bustling areas, cafes in the form of complex cultural spaces that have environmentally regenerated shipbuilding equipment factories into libraries, galleries, and cafes were lined up.

‘Registered’ Expo Has Greater Economic Impact Than World Cup or Olympics

The 1993 Daejeon Expo and the 2012 Yeosu Expo were ‘recognized’ Expos, where hosting costs had to be provided free of charge to participating countries. In contrast, the 2030 Expo Busan is preparing is a ‘registered’ Expo, where the host country only provides the land, and participating countries build and dismantle their own pavilions at their own expense. The hosting period is also longer at six months (180 days) compared to three months for recognized Expos. The exhibition area is unlimited. Compared to the 2002 World Cup (30 days, 3 million spectators, economic effect of 11.47 trillion won) or the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics (16 days, 1.38 million spectators, economic effect of 29 trillion won), the economic inducement effect is even greater.

In fact, the registered Expo is expected to attract up to 34.8 million visitors, which is up to 10 times more, and the economic ripple effect is estimated at 61 trillion won, more than five times that of the World Cup. Jo Yujang, head of Busan City’s 2030 Expo Promotion Headquarters, explained, “While the Olympics or World Cup, which last two weeks to a month, have great economic inducement effects as marketing platforms for companies through broadcasting, the Expo requires the host country to build all the pavilions, involving direct investment of about 2 trillion won and significant consumption inducement effects.”

Jo Yujang, Head of the 2030 Expo Promotion Headquarters in Busan, explained, "If events like the Olympics or the World Cup, which take two weeks to a month, have a significant economic impact as marketing platforms for companies through broadcasting, the Expo requires the host country to build all the pavilions, involving direct investment of about 2 trillion won, and it also has a large effect on attracting consumption."

Leading the Agenda on Eco-friendliness, Carbon Neutrality, and Climate Change

South Korea, having thrown its hat in the ring as the next host after the 2020 Dubai Expo and the 2025 Osaka Expo, is competing against Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Italy (Rome), and Ukraine (Odesa). Particularly, Saudi Arabia is expected to fiercely compete until the end, expanding its support base with oil money-backed volume offensives. Our strategy is to preemptively claim the agenda of global zeitgeist such as decarbonization and climate change, highlighting the legitimacy of hosting as a ‘global hub nation.’ The exhibition hall will be operated as ‘carbon zero,’ using eco-friendly materials and renewable energy to emphasize the theme of ‘overcoming climate change with future technology.’ This is why the Busan World Expo’s subtitles are ‘Sustainable Life with Nature,’ ‘Technology for Humanity,’ and ‘A Place of Care and Sharing.’

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, at a dinner meeting with reporters on the 21st in Busan, said, “The issues of 2030 are climate change and inclusive growth. It will be a major international cooperation platform where the host country presents the most important issues to the international community, proposes solutions, and seeks paths to prosperity.” He added, “The Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s ‘coexistence strategy with the world’ means not just prospering alone but living well together through solidarity with the world. If the Busan Expo realizes an environmentally friendly Expo, South Korea can show a model case of solidarity.”

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon, who attended the press meeting that day, also stated, “We will make the Expo site a carbon-neutral site and launch the Floating Island Project to simultaneously address climate change and digital transformation.”

Negotiations Linked to Development Cooperation Projects... Busan City’s Critical Bid Effort

To this end, Busan City is vigorously conducting negotiations linked to development cooperation projects targeting African and Pacific island countries that have not yet decided their support. For example, for countries rich in water resources but lacking hydropower, companies will enter to create ecosystems, and the overall exhibition theme will focus on ‘responding to climate change.’

Head of the Promotion Headquarters Jo said, “We will projectize development cooperation projects and actively share South Korea’s advanced technology and growth experience regarding climate crisis and energy issues faced by each country, proposing concrete solutions.” Additionally, it is expected to have a significant effect on balanced development centered on the southern region, moving away from growth focused on the metropolitan area.

Meanwhile, the 2030 Expo will undergo a BIE on-site inspection in April, the 4th competitive presentation and BIE official reception in June, the BIE official symposium in September, and the 5th competitive presentation in November, after which the host city will be selected. If Busan is confirmed as the host city, South Korea will become the seventh country, following advanced nations (France, the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy) that have hosted all three major global mega-events: the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Expo.