Choi Tae-won, Ten Days of 'Half the Globe'... Relentless Push for Expo Hosting

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is undertaking a rigorous campaign to secure the hosting rights for the '2030 World Expo' by traveling a distance equivalent to half the circumference of the Earth over ten days ahead of the host country vote.

Chairman Choi will participate in the public-private joint bidding event held in Paris, France, on the 24th (local time). Although President Yoon Suk-yeol and major group heads are scheduled to conduct a three-day bidding campaign in Paris starting the day before, Chairman Choi, who serves as the head of the private bidding committee, will be joining later.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Busan Mayor Park Hyung-joon (right), and Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Busan Expo Private Hosting Committee (left), attended a press briefing wearing T-shirts with the slogan "Busan is ready" at the Korean Cultural Center in France on the 8th (local time). Prime Minister Han embarked on a tour of four countries?France, Denmark, Croatia, and Greece?about 50 days before the decision on the host city for the 2030 World Expo. Photo by the Prime Minister's Office

Since early this month, Chairman Choi has been conducting bidding activities in Paris but had to suddenly visit seven countries in Latin America and Europe. The total flight distance reached 22,000 km, equivalent to half the circumference of the Earth.

An official from the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated, "Some governments requested visits to hear Korea's strategy in more detail or to identify undecided swing countries to secure their votes for Korea," adding, "Since the meetings are with heads of state, the schedule is unpredictable."

Although the Expo private bidding committee led by the Chamber was launched over 550 days ago, it has not been easy to arrange individual appointments with heads of state from the more than 180 member countries of the World Expo Organization. Ultimately, Chairman Choi is taking the lead directly, while other group heads support the high-level diplomatic efforts, according to insiders.

A Chamber official said, "With only five days left until the voting day, every single vote is crucial," and added, "All executives are meeting representatives of member countries overseas to conduct a meticulous vote-gaining campaign."

Meanwhile, the host city for the 2030 World Expo will be decided by a vote of 182 member countries in Paris, France, on the 28th. Currently, the bidding competition is a three-way race among Busan, South Korea; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and Rome, Italy.