Busan formally submits World Expo 2030 bid in Paris

Economy

Published: 07 Sep. 2022, 17:00 Updated: 07 Sep. 2022, 19:32

Busan formally submits World Expo 2030 bid in Paris

Korean vice minister of trade, industry and energy Jang Young-jin, second from right, along with other Korean delegates handing in the candidature dossier in hosting the World Expo in 2030 in Busan to Dimitri Kerkentzes, Bureau International des Exposition (BIE) in Paris. [MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY]

The Korean delegation on Wednesday formally submitted Busan's bid to host the World Expo in 2030.

A candidature dossier was delivered to the Bureau International des Exposition (BIE) in Paris, the international body with 170 member states that coordinates the holding of world expos.

Busan's bid document includes the theme of the expo, the estimated number of visitors, information on infrastructure, including hotels and transportation, government support and comments on how the proposal stands out from those from the competition.

The bid was submitted just a day after the city, Korea's second largest, emerged from a major typhoon.

Korea's delegates held meetings with key officials from BIE member countries, including the ambassadors from Mongolia and Rwanda, since arriving in Paris on Tuesday and stressed the important role Korea currently plays in the global community, including its efforts to fight climate change.

Jang Young-jin, vice minister of trade, industry and energy, Kim Yoon-il, the president's future strategy secretary, and Shin Jae-hyun, Busan's ambassador for international relations, led the delegation.

Busan mayor Park Heong-joon was supposed to head to Paris with the delegation but pulled out the last minute as he stayed in Busan to coordinate the clean up and recovery from Typhoon Hinnamnor.

Rome and Riyadh are also making bids to host the event.

Busan's theme for the World Expo is "Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future," with sub-themes of sustainable living with nature, technology for humanity and a platform for caring and sharing.

The dossier that was submitted to the BIE will be delivered to the member countries. It will be used during the BIE's field visit, which is to take place in the first half of next year.

After two more presentations, the host city will be named in November 2023.

BTS will lead one of Korea's presentations.

The heads of Busan World Expo bidding commitee including , from front row left, Park Heong-joon, Busan mayor, Han Duck-soo, prime minister and co-chair, as well as Chey Tae-won, SK Group chairman and co-chair of the bid committee, poses with the BTS member in Seoul in July. [YONHAP]

The city is expecting the global event to help the southern region of the Peninsula economically and culturally and help it become a major logistics hub in northeast Asia.

The Korean government has strongly been pushing to host the World Expo as President Yoon Suk-yeol in August stressed that it is an event that Korea as a country must get.

While Korea has hosted the World Cup and the Olympic Games, it has yet to host a "registered" World Expo.

Korea held a "specialized" expo in Daejeon in 1993 and another in Yeosu in 2012.

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