Busan unites as countdown to 2030 World Expo host decision begins

[Photo by Yonhap]

On Tuesday, the day when the host city for the 2030 World Expo will finally be announced, Busan, South Korea, is expected to be filled with excitement. Over 1,000 citizens will gather at the Busan Citizens’ Center Grand Theater in Dong-gu, Busan, in an event to support the bid.

Starting at 8:30 p.m. in Korea, the cheering event will connect online to Paris, France, home to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) headquarters. The live broadcast will capture local reactions and the voting results of the 182 BIE member states. The event will continue until the host city is announced.

The Busan Municipal Choir will kick off the event with an opening performance. The gathering will connect with Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon in Paris via a video call to get a glimpse of the atmosphere in the City of Light, and the bids for the 173rd BIE General Assembly will be presented at 10 p.m. Busan will be the first to present, followed by Rome of Italy and Riyadh of Saudi Arabia.

Following the presentations, performances aiming to win the bid will begin. The program includes a traditional fusion and convergence performance by the Busan Cultural Foundation.

The voting will begin around midnight on Wednesday. If no city secures more than two-thirds, or 122 votes, in the first round, a second round will be held immediately. The entire process will be live streamed for global audiences.

Building up to this moment, Busan has engaged in a month-long cheering campaign. Various events, including the Busan Fireworks Festival and gatherings of citizens at key locations, have expressed the city’s sincere desire to host the expo. Citizens have actively participated, chanting slogans like ‘Busan is Ready’ and ‘Number One Busan.’

As the announcement day approaches, the city of Busan remains hopeful, with citizens and districts alike actively contributing to the bid support campaign.