Korea Inc. throws its weight behind Busan's World Expo bid

Economy

Korea Inc. throws its weight behind Busan's World Expo bid

Published: 25 Nov. 2021, 16:05

Leaders of Korea's top 10 business groups pose with Kim Young-ju, center, chairman of The Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan, and Yeo Han-koo, Trade Minister, second from left, at the committee's office in Seoul on Thursday. [MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY]

Korea’s top 10 business groups officially joined the campaign to bring the World Expo to Busan in 2030.

Presidents of the top 10 groups including Samsung Electronics’ Rhee In-yong and Hyundai Motor's Kong Young-woon met with Kim Young-ju, chairman of The Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan on Thursday and discussed how they could use their overseas networks to help Busan win the bid and drum up enthusiasm within Korea.

Other groups included SK, LG, Lotte, Posco, Hanwha, GS, Hyundai Heavy Industries and Shinsegae.

Hyundai Heavy Industries said it would add a Busan Expo promotion logo to its soccer team’s uniform, and print it on tickets.

“Rallying support within the country is important as it is one of the key factors that officials from the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will be looking for when visiting the city for an evaluation,” said a spokesperson for the Busan Expo bid committee.

The committee named Lee Jung-jae, star of the Netflix hit "Squid Game," as its celebrity ambassador.

Actor Lee Jung-jae, center, and star of Netflix Squid Game. [NETFLIX]

Busan is one of the five contenders to host the World Expo in 2030 along with Moscow, Rome, Riyadh and Odessa.

The cities will present their cases to members of the BIE next month.

Officials from the Trade Ministry and Busan city government attended the meeting.

BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]