One Week After Expo Defeat, Yoon Visits Busan: "Will Protect Balanced Development Hub"

'Encouragement Meeting for the Dreams and Challenges of Busan Citizens' Held
Steady Implementation of Busan Regional Issues Including Gadeokdo New Airport
Visited International Market After Meeting to Encourage Merchants

President Yoon Suk-yeol visited Busan on the 6th, just a week after the failure to secure the 2030 Busan World Expo, expressing his intention to continue fostering Busan as a hub for balanced national development. This move is interpreted as an effort to soothe the anger of Busan citizens following the Expo bid defeat, as the cabinet reshuffle enters its final phase.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon held a 'Busan Citizens' Dreams and Challenges Encouragement Meeting' at the Busan Port International Exhibition & Convention Center, inviting about 100 people including citizen representatives who worked hard for the Expo bid, Busan-area lawmakers, business leaders, and government and local officials.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is making closing remarks at the meeting encouraging the dreams and challenges of Busan citizens held on the 6th at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center. [Image source=Yonhap News]

This event is seen as an attempt to calm the public sentiment of Busan citizens who had high hopes for the 2030 Expo bid and to recover support for government administration ahead of the general election in about five months. Given that President Yoon has recently replaced presidential office aides and reshuffled ministries over the past week, the strategy now is to turn attention to regional public sentiment starting with Busan to secure victory in the general election and momentum for governance.

In fact, according to a regular public opinion poll jointly commissioned by Yonhap News Agency and Yonhap News TV to the polling firm Metrics, released on the same day (survey conducted nationwide from June 2 to 3 targeting 1,000 men and women aged 18 and over, with a margin of error of ±3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level, using wireless telephone interview (CATI) method, response rate 11.9%; detailed information available at the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission), positive evaluations of President Yoon's governance stood at 33%, while negative evaluations were 60%. While approval ratings generally declined across regions, even in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam areas?strongholds of the ruling party?positive evaluations dropped from 40% to 37%, whereas negative evaluations rose from 54% to 57%.

Although the Expo bid failed, President Yoon expressed his determination to carry out regional issues and national tasks based on Busan. In his remarks, he emphasized, "For us to achieve leapfrog growth, we must utilize the entire national territory thoroughly and without omission," adding, "For that, Busan must become the hub city of the southern region." He also reiterated promises to establish systems and infrastructure for Busan's globalization, including the opening of Gadeokdo New Airport, relocation of KDB Industrial Bank to Busan, and the swift promotion of the North Port redevelopment project. Earlier, in a national address on the 29th, President Yoon mentioned, "We will continue to develop Busan as a hub for maritime, international finance, advanced industries, and digital sectors, organically connecting the southern regions of Yeongnam and Honam so that all economic and industrial activities can proceed smoothly without having to come to Seoul, ensuring infrastructure development proceeds without setbacks."

Ministers responsible for economic and infrastructure policies and business leaders who had been involved in the Expo bid activities also attended in full force. Attendees included ministers from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Ministry of SMEs and Startups; Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong; LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo; Hanwha Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan; HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Jung Ki-sun; Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Won-tae; Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon; and SK Senior Vice Chairman Choi Jae-won. This is seen as a demonstration of the government's policy will and the private sector's investment intentions toward Busan, both directly and indirectly. A presidential office official explained, "Today's event was organized to encourage Busan citizens who have given great support for the Expo bid and to discuss development plans for Busan as a new innovation hub in the southern region."

After the meeting, President Yoon visited the International Market area (International Market, Bupyeong Kkangtong Market), a representative traditional market in Busan. This was President Yoon's first visit to Busan's International Market since taking office. He greeted merchants and encouraged those struggling due to the economic downturn.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is sharing bindaetteok with Lee Jae-yong, Chairman of Samsung Electronics, and Cho Hyun-joon, Chairman of Hyosung Group, while tasting street food with business leaders at Ggangtong Market in Jung-gu, Busan on the 6th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]