Business leaders join Busan World Expo pitch in Paris

A promotional event at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris on Monday to promote Busan as the host city for the 2030 World Expo. [Courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office]

Amid a growing pitch for Busan to host the 2030 World Expo with around 50 days left until the final vote, the South Korean government and business leaders have gathered in Paris as part of final efforts for Busan’s candidacy.

The World Expo 2030 Busan bid planning committee and the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) held a promotional event at the Pavillon Gabriel in Paris on Monday to promote Busan as the host city for the 2030 World Expo. The event was attended by representatives from various countries, including Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Dimitri Kerkentzes. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and FKI Chairman Chey Tae-won, the co-chairs of the bid committee, welcomed the approximately 200 guests attending the event, with presidential special envoy Jang Seong-min and Busan City Mayor Park Heong-joon also present.

From the business circle, 25 leaders were in attendance to support Busan’s bid, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung and Doosan Group Chair Park Jeong-won. Other executives presented at the event included Samsung Electronics Co. President Park Seung-hee Park, SK Supex Council’s Social Value Committee President Lee Hyung-hee, LG Corp. President Ha Beom-jong, POSCO International Vice Chairman Jeong Tak, Lotte Chemical Corp. Chief Executive Officer Hwang Jin-goo, Hanwha Aerospace Co. President Shin Hyun-woo, HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering Co. Vice Chairman Ka Sam-hyun, GS Engineering & Construction Corp. President Woo Mu-hyeon, KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee, and the Federation of Korean Industries Vice Chairman Kim Chang-beom.

Global scholar and President of the Foundation on Economic Trends Jeremy Rifkin supported Busan Expo through his speech, in which he called Korea’s resilience an inspiration to the world. Sam Richards, an award-winning sociologist at Penn State University, also supported Busan, focusing on Korea’s leap from a country receiving aid to a donor country, driven by innovation, education, and cooperation.

Co-chair Chey appealed to the guests that Busan would be able to provide tailored solutions to each country, one of the strongest strengths that the southern coastal city has as the potential host.