10 Years Ago Hit Song 'Gangnam Style' Background Music
Celebrity Cameos Instead of Busan Attractions
"Content and Technology Are Inadequate" Criticized
Although Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was selected as the host city for the 2030 World Expo, Busan only received 29 votes in the first round of voting. Among this, the final presentation (PT) video of our bid committee, featuring K-pop stars such as actor Lee Jung-jae and singer Psy, has been heavily criticized online as "embarrassing to watch until the end."
On the afternoon of the 28th (local time), Korea was the first to deliver the final competitive presentation (PT) at the 173rd General Assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) held in Issy-les-Moulineaux, Paris, France.
Five speakers took the stage in order: Park Hyung-jun, Mayor of Busan; Na Seung-yeon, Busan Expo Ambassador; Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister; and Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General.
The final presentation, which lasted about 20 minutes, concluded with a video approximately 33 seconds long. The video began with Psy’s mega-hit song "Gangnam Style," followed by appearances from actor Lee Jung-jae, soprano Jo Sumi, who each said "Your Choice." Then, K-pop singers including Psy and Kim Junsu appeared one after another to encourage support.
After the video was released, harsh criticism poured in mainly on online communities. It was criticized for its poor quality and content, as well as its technically outdated style, making it seem as if it was made by college students.
In particular, the use of Psy’s "Gangnam Style" as background music was pointed out to have amplified the outdated feel. "Gangnam Style" was released in July 2012 and sparked a global craze centered in the United States. However, more than a decade has passed, and with the rising status of K-culture, there are many K-pop artists and famous hit songs that have gained worldwide popularity, so using "Gangnam Style" was seen as incomprehensible. It was widely agreed that it was neither fitting for the Busan Expo bid nor a tasteful choice.
Online comments included harsh criticisms and sarcasm such as "Is the Expo being held in Gangnam?" "Even a college student’s PT would be better than this," "It would have been better if a young person had made it with a sense of style," "It reminds me of events that used entertainers from the 70s," and "Where did the tax money go?" Even communities with a pro-government stance expressed related concerns.
Meanwhile, 165 countries participated in the first round of voting that day, with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia receiving 119 votes, more than two-thirds of the total, and thus being selected as the final host city for the Expo. Busan received 29 votes, and Rome received 17 votes.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
