KCCI throws full support behind Busan's World Expo bid

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Chey Tae-won gives an opening speech to the commerce chambers' chairmen on Tuesday. [KOREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY]

Heads of Korea’s commerce chambers convened Tuesday for the first time in four years and together pledged to heavily promote the 2030 Busan Expo which will be decided on in less than three months.

Chey Tae-won, chairman of Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Lee Jae-ha, chairman of Daegu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shim Jae-sun, chairman of Incheon Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chung Tae-hee, chairman of Daejeon Chamber of Commerce and Industry gathered Tuesday to participate in the chairmen meeting which has not been held since 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Suh Kyung-bae, chairman of Amorepacific Group, Hyun Jeong-eun, chairman of Hyundai Group, Lee Soon-hyung, chairman of Seah Steel and Cho Hyun-sang, vice chairman of Hyosung Group, also participated as vice chairmen of the KCCI.

“If the business circle concentrates all of its capacity on it [the Expo], we will be able to make 2030 Busan Expo happen,” Chairman Chey said at the event.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also acknowledged the KCCI’s effort to attract the World Expo in a message delivered through video.

“Koreans are impressed by the KCCI’s commitment to the Expo,” Han said through the video. “It is also striving to realize social values through programs like the ‘Entrepreneurship Round Table (ERT)’.”

Chey stressed the importance of forming a platform under the ERT program where members of commerce chambers, alongside those from other areas such as politics, gather to address various issues and come up with solutions.

“We need a platform to solve the country’s problem or certain regions’ problem,” said Chey during the opening speech. “So the KCCI want to play a central role in launching the program.”

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]