Lotte chairman makes further push for Busan Expo 2030

Industry

Published: 13 Jun. 2023, 17:07

Lotte chairman makes further push for Busan Expo 2030

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, right, shakes hands with Ambassador Khaled Abdel Rahman, the Egyptian ambassador to Korea, during the commemorative dinner marking the 15th anniversary of the establishment of Asiana Society Korea at the Signiel Hotel in Busan on Monday. [LOTTE GROUP]

Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin guided ambassadors from 30 countries around the potential venue for the World Expo 2030 in Busan as part of a special event hosted by Asia Society Korea.

The celebration of Asia Society Korea's 15th anniversary took place over a two-day period at Busan North Port, a possible location for the World Expo 2030 should Busan win its bid to host the event. The Asia Society is a non-governmental diplomacy organization originally established by John D. Rockefeller III in 1956, and its Korean arm was founded by the Lotte Group chairman in 2007.

Among the notable attendees at the commemorative event were Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, Busan World Expo Bidding Committee Secretary-General Yoon Sang-jik, Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee and Admiral Lee Jong-ho, Chief of Naval Operations.

During the second day of the event on Tuesday, Shin and the ambassadors paid a visit to the ROK Fleet Command to honor the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. They participated in a naval memorial ceremony and a wreath-laying ceremony to pay tribute to the fallen soldiers.

Following the solemn proceedings, the attendees visited Busan North Port, where urban regeneration projects are currently underway.

The Lotte Group chairman took advantage of the occasion to showcase the city's charm and its capability to successfully host the Expo to the ambassadors during their visit to the Expo promotional hall and the prospective venue. A formal luncheon, overseen by Busan Vice Mayor for Economic Affairs Lee Seong-kweun, was also prepared for the attendees.

The Asia Society Korea event took place not long after Shin sought support for the Busan Expo from influential global executives during his participation in the Consumer Goods Forum in Kyoto on June 7. He also advocated for the Busan Expo to the audience at the KLPGA Lotte Open a few days earlier.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]