Despite Korea's best efforts, Busan was defeated by Saudi Arabia's Riyadh in a fierce three-way race to host the 2030 World Expo.
Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong, LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and other heads of Korea's major companies joined President Yoon in a meeting with Busan businesspeople and officials and a stop by a traditional market to eat tteokbokki.
The presidential office on Wednesday thanked the Korean people, especially Busan residents, for their unrelenting support in the long campaign to host the 2030 World Expo, despite disappointing results.
The government needs innovative figures to find effective ways to improve the struggling public livelihood.
Despite Busan's failure to secure a 2030 World Expo victory, the Korean government promised on Wednesday to proceed with the aid and infrastructure projects promised during the campaigning process.
The crowd of 1,500 at the pep rally in Busan Citizen's Hall’s grand theater went silent when the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) finally called the name of the Saudi capital at around 1:20 a.m. on Wednesday.
Korean business organizations emphasized that Busan's campaign for the World Expo 2030 served as an opportunity to demonstrate the country's potential.
President Yoon Suk Yeol said he was to be blamed. However, he said the plan of achieving a balanced national development and Korea’s pledge to responsibly contribute to the international community will continue.
Busan might rerun to host World Expo 2035, Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon said after the city lost to Saudi's Riyadh on Tuesday in Paris to host the 2030 event.
While Korea gave its best shot in its private-public campaigning efforts over the past one and a half years to promote Busan, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh was selected as the host city of the 2030 World Expo on Tuesday in Paris.
Korea JoongAng Daily Sitemap
