BTS newest ambassador of Busan World Expo 2030
![BTS's leader RM celebrating after being officially appointed as the representative of the World Expo 2030 Busan at the Hybe office in Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]](https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/data/photo/2022/07/19/3d9d9198-d681-4101-962a-03b2ce64ef0f.jpg)
BTS's leader RM celebrating after being officially appointed as the representative of the World Expo 2030 Busan at the Hybe office in Seoul on Tuesday. [YONHAP]
A ceremony appointing all seven BTS members to the position was held at Hybe’s office in Seoul.
The members will hold a concert in Busan later this year to support Busan in its bid to host the World Expo in 2030 and will also engage in other promotional activities including guiding the Bureau International des Expositions officials during their trip to the southern port city and promoting Busan's bid on the committee’s official social media.
“Appointing the global star BTS, who is loved by people around the world, will be an opportunity to raise interest and support not only from within Korea but also globally,” said Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who also co-chairs the World Expo 2030 Busan bidding committee.
BTS is the third celebrity to be appointed as an official representative.
Other celebrity representatives for the World Expo 2030 Busan are actor Lee Jung-jae from "Squid Game" and the country’s first virtual influencer, Rozy.
The ceremony was livestreamed on YouTube with committee members including fellow expo co-chair and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon present.
According to the presidential office Tuesday, six additional countries including those in South America and the Pacific region have expressed their support for Busan.
An official at the presidential office in Yongsan, who requested not to be named, said that over the last two months since the Yoon Suk-yeol government announced its full support for Busan, the countries that have expressed their own support have increased.
"We plan to further increase those who support us in the second half," the official added.
Riyadh and Rome are also competing to host the World Expo in 2030.
The finalist will be decided in November next year.
If Busan wins, the city plans to hold the World Expo from May through October at its North Port.
BY LEE HO-JEONG [lee.hojeong@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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