Korea ramps up 2030 World Expo bidding efforts for Busan

The Busan Expo bidding committee held its third meeting Friday with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in attendance.

The Busan Expo bidding committee held its third meeting Friday in Jongno District, central Seoul, with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in attendance. [KCCI]

Korea is ramping up its bidding effort to bring the World Expo to Busan, with less than a month left until the on-site visit by the inspection team from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

The Busan Expo bidding committee held its third meeting Friday with SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo in attendance.

“The first half of this year will be the watershed for winning the bid race,” said Chey during the meeting held in central Seoul.

Chey, who doubles as the head of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is leading the Busan Expo bidding committee along with Han.

Chey called for the committee to ramp up the bidding efforts for the BIE’s inspection, slated for April 3 to 7, and for the fourth competition presentation in June.

Busan is competing with Rome, Riyadh and Odesa to host the expo in 2030. The host country will be decided by a vote of 170 BIE member countries in November during a general assembly in Paris.

Prime Minister Han also stressed that “with about 9 months left until the final decision is made, the competition between the bidding countries is expected to grow more intense.”

The plan is to ramp up promotional activities to boost public awareness for the Expo bid both at home and overseas, especially in Paris, while increasing lobbying by sending delegations.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy will promote Busan’s expo bid during the World Climate Industry Expo scheduled from May 24 to 27 in the port city.

A private sector-led bid committee comprised of business leaders was launched in May last year. Big-name companies including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LG, Lotte, Posco, Hanwha, GS, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Shinsegae and CJ are part of the committee, with each operating a task force to support Busan's bid.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]