Reception event for Busan's Expo bid lights up Paris

Diplomacy

Published: 22 Jun. 2023, 17:41 Updated: 22 Jun. 2023, 20:29

Reception event for Busan's Expo bid lights up Paris

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, greets Bureau International des Expositions’ Secretary General Dimitri S. Kerkentzes at the Korean government's World Expo reception event in Paris on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

PARIS — Around 400 people, including delegates of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Korean business tycoons and K-pop stars, attended a reception hosted by the Korean government Wednesday in Paris rallying support for Busan's bid to host a digitally advanced 2030 World Expo.

More than double the number of guests the Korean government expected attended the event, which took place on the heels of President Yoon Suk Yeol's English-language presentation at the 179-member BIE general assembly on Tuesday to showcase Korea's World Expo bid.

"Korea will make the Busan Expo the most digitally advanced expo," Yoon said at the reception at a sports center in Issy-les-Moulineaux. "We will continue the Expo's vision of expanding the global market and [promoting] economic and social values in Busan."

He stressed that a World Expo in Busan "will contribute to the birth of new technologies and ideas and humanity's sustainable development and the prosperity of the international community."

The official reception is an invitational event for each candidate country during the BIE general assembly and an important opportunity to convey the appeal of the host country to the 179 member states and ask for their support.

Saudi Arabia, one of the three contenders currently believed to have the lead, held its reception dinner on Monday, while Italy had its own on Tuesday.

Ukraine withdrew its candidacy and did not give a presentation Tuesday.

Yoon also lauded Psy, the Korean pop star known for "Gangnam Style," for the role the singer played in the Korean delegation's presentation the previous day.

To this, the singer replied, "Mr. President, you did a better job."

Psy was the first speaker in the presentation, while Yoon was the last, concluding the presentation by saying, "See you in Busan in 2030."

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon also praised everyone's effort and said, "We are all one family."

Some 20 Korean business leaders, led by SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, co-chair of the World Expo 2030 Busan Bid Committee, also greeted guests at the reception.

Chey, who has a leg injury, had the Busan World Expo logo printed on his crutches.

The business leaders, including Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung and LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, ran booths at the venue promoting Busan's expo bid.

Busan is reportedly closing the gap with Saudi's Riyadh with the latest presentation.

"I believe our presentation was the best among others," Chey said after the presentation.

SK Inc Chairman Chey Tae-won, right, holds up his crutches with the Busan World Expo logo alongside Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong during Korea's World Expo reception event in Paris Wednesday. [YONHAP]

"The president met with each person to appeal for support and directly explained the strengths and charms of Busan and Asia's potential," said Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for press affairs, Thursday in a press briefing in Hanoi.

The reception spanned around two hours, exceeding the allotted time, she said, adding that Yoon stressed that "Korea has come this far by jumping into the world market with bare fists from the ruins of war without any endowed resources."

Yoon was quoted as saying, "We have a lot of development experience that we want to share with other countries around the world."

The president further stressed a message of "solidarity, not competition," to the international community through the Expo bid, Kim added.

Yoon thanked and gave words of encouragement to Saudi Princess Haifa Al Mogrin, who attended the reception, and said, "Competition in good faith between the two countries will further strengthen and deepen friendship."

The exhibitions and performances at the reception also relayed Korea's key brand power such as K-Culture, K-Food, and K-Music, according to the presidential office.

The food served included bulgogi sandwich, crabmeat risotto and zucchini tart prepared by the two-Michelin-star Korean fusion restaurant, Mingles. Drinks included traditional alcoholic beverages such as makgeolli (rice wine), plum wine and soju cocktails were served.

The event included performances by Korea's top musical actors Kim Jun-su and Cha Ji-yeon.

Attendees received souvenirs, including a BTS commemorative stamp packet, as the boy band serves as honorary ambassador for Busan's World Expo bid, along with a cosmetic set representing K-Beauty and a "Busan is ready" keychain that first lady Kim Keon-hee participated in designing and wore herself on the Paris trip.

"The government and the private sector will do their best to win the bid under the theme of 'Korea One Team' for the remaining five months until the 173rd general assembly this November when the host of the 2030 World Expo is decided," the presidential office said in a statement.