Team Korea confident about winning World Expo 2030 bid

Vehicles promoting Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030 are parked alongside the Seine River in Paris in this November 2022 file photo. Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy

Gov't, Busan, biz community to make all-out efforts until BIE's vote in November

By Park Jae-hyuk

Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030 is likely to gain greater momentum in 2023, because the central and the city governments, as well as domestic companies, vowed to make all-out efforts until members of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) vote in November to choose the international event's venue among Busan, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Italy's Rome and Ukraine's Odessa.

Confident about Busan's capability of defeating its competitors, working-level staff representing the government, the city and business community dismissed concerns that it is virtually impossible for Korea's second-largest city to outstrip the oil-rich Middle Eastern country's capital.

Lee Kyung-ho, head of the support group for the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030

"Saudi Arabia's expansion has been slow since the second half of 2022," said Lee Kyung-ho, head of the support group for the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030, who was sent from the Ministry of Trade, Energy and Industry. "It seems that we have already caught up with Saudi Arabia, so it is worth competing with Riyadh."

He added that Busan will be able to win the hearts of those in developing countries by teaching them how Korea achieved economic development, democratization and globalization in such a short period of time.

"If Korea hosts the World Expo, we will play a role as a bridge between developed and developing countries by sharing our experience and know-how," he said. "From that standpoint, Korea can be differentiated from its competitors."

Cho Yoo-jang, head of the Busan Metropolitan Government's 2030 Expo Bid Promotion Headquarters, also emphasized that developing countries account for nearly two-thirds of the 170 BIE members and they are desperate for Korea's technologies.

"Countries rich in natural resources now want to create industrial ecosystems in their countries," he said. "They therefore want Korea's technologies of exploiting resources, refining them and manufacturing products."

Cho Yoo-jang, head of the Busan Metropolitan Government's 2030 Expo Bid Promotion Headquarters

Cho added that neither Saudi Arabia nor Italy are equipped with such technologies.

Saying that even Saudi Arabia wants Korea's technologies, he questioned the rumor that the Korean government had promised to decide to give up its attempt to host the World Expo, so that domestic builders can win opportunities to participate in lucrative projects led by the Middle Eastern country.

The rumor spread after Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud's day-long stay in Seoul last November, when Korean firms signed 26 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) ― collectively worth $29 billion ― with the Saudi government, institutions and companies.

There were concerns that Busan's rivalry with Riyadh may jeopardize the efforts of Korean builders and manufacturers to join NEOM, a $500-billion project initiated by the crown prince back in 2017 to develop eco-friendly smart cities covering a total of 26,500 square kilometers in Saudi Arabia's northwestern Tabuk Province, which is located near the Red Sea.

The Korean government denied the rumor at that time, expressing strong displeasure against rumormongers.

"The rumor was unreasonable, because both Busan and Riyadh will be eliminated from the bid if the rumor turns out to be true," Cho said. "For Saudi Arabia to succeed in NEOM, companies equipped with technical skills should guarantee that the project is feasible."

Given that such unreasonable rumors continue to spread about the World Expo and there is still a misunderstanding about the global event, Cho said that Busan will focus more in the new year on letting citizens know the facts.

"In 2022, we held various events including the BTS concert and firework festival, so as to make more people realize our bid to host the World Expo 2030," he said. "In 2023, we will tell how we can make profits from the World Expo and how Korea can take the global leadership by hosting the event."

Park Dong-min, head of the secretariat of the Entrepreneurs Committee for the World Expo 2030

Park Dong-min, who leads the secretariat of the Entrepreneurs Committee for the World Expo 2030, said that Korea is better than Saudi Arabia, Italy and Ukraine in terms of team spirit.

"Unlike its competitors, Korea has used its own method of 'Team Korea,'" said Park, who also leads the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (KCCI) Planning & Coordination Division. "Once the government creates an opportunity to meet with other countries' officials, companies then provide support."

KCCI also plans to host the Korea Night event on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January, to promote Busan's World Expo bid.

KCCI and SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, who leads the Entrepreneurs Committee, is expected to let the global political and business leaders know the value of Korea's second-largest city. There is a possibility that President Yoon Suk-yeol may attend the event, as he is said to be considering visiting Switzerland in mid-January.

"Themed with 'Transforming Our World, Navigating toward a Better Future' to solve climate change and inequality, we will promote Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030 during the forum," Park said.

BTS performs at the Asiad Main Stadium in Busan to support the southern port city's bid to host World Expo 2030, Oct. 15, 2022. Courtesy of Hybe

Preparation for April's due diligence

The BIE enquiry mission's visit to Busan for due diligence between April 3 and 7 is another important event facing the city government and the bid committee in the new year. The mission will make the visit before the bidders give their fourth and fifth presentations in June and November, respectively, in Paris.

"They will pay a visit to Buk Harbor in Busan," Lee said. "We will be fully prepared to show our strengths to them. We will also enhance mutual understanding through meetings with key figures."

Cho did not worry about April's due diligence, as the purpose of the enquiry mission's visit is to check whether the event will be held at the venue on state-owned land and whether there are any obstacles to the city's plan to host the World Expo.

However, he emphasized that Korea needs to make them feel that Koreans are enthusiastic about hosting the World Expo 2030 in Busan.

"If the enquiry mission returns with a good impression, they may lean toward Korea," he said.

Park said the business lobby group plans to make the best use of infrastructure owned by private enterprises during the enquiry mission's visit, so as to focus on showing Korea's willingness to host the World Expo.

"People's desire to host the event is another important evaluation factor," he said. "By hosting their meetings with top executives of the five largest business groups, tours of high-tech facilities and K-culture events, we plan to show Korea's strength differentiated from those of its competitors."