The Transition Committee: "Establishing a Government-Led Control Tower to Secure the 2030 Busan Expo"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Transition Committee announced on the 4th that it will establish a government-led control tower to attract the 2030 Busan Expo and cooperate with the private sector.

Lee Heon-seung, head of the Transition Committee's 2030 Busan Expo Attraction Task Force (TF), stated in a press release distributed that day that the main activities and achievements of the TF and the new government's policy direction regarding the 2030 Busan World Expo have been set as "Promotion of the attraction and successful hosting of the 2030 World Expo."

The World Expo is an event officially recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), an international exhibition organization that reflects on the development of human civilization, addresses current challenges faced by humanity, and showcases prospects for future development. It introduces achievements in industry and science and technology and demonstrates the host country's capabilities, often called the economic and cultural Olympics. Lee said, "Attracting the 2030 Busan World Expo, which will impact the nation’s economy, diplomacy, and culture, is not merely a regional event but will also serve as a focal point to consolidate national capabilities."

The Transition Committee plans to strengthen the Expo attraction capabilities by shifting to a government-led promotion system while maximizing the use of private sector attraction capabilities through cooperation with companies. Furthermore, with about a year and a half remaining before the hosting decision, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will lead efforts to refine South Korea’s negotiation strategy targeting overseas countries and develop a roadmap up to the execution stage. Additionally, in preparation for the on-site inspection by the BIE Secretariat expected at the end of 2022 or early 2023, they plan to create a stable attraction foundation by reviewing efficient layout of the Expo site and accessibility of transportation such as air and road.

To this end, the new government will integrate the private attraction committee and government support committee related to the 2030 Busan World Expo and temporarily establish the "2030 Busan World Expo Government Attraction Committee," a government-affiliated control tower, by the end of next year. In particular, they explained that dedicated organizations will be newly organized within relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and in consultation with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, dedicated personnel will be reinforced in related institutions including the attraction committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. They also plan to quickly form a pool of high-level attraction envoys and dispatch special envoy teams to BIE member countries, which are the targets of attraction negotiations, to conduct high-level attraction campaigns.

Lee also explained that the new government plans to accelerate improvements in transportation and surrounding environments. First, they will strive to safely and promptly construct the Gadeokdo New Airport and open it early. To enhance the competitiveness of the hosting site, they will smoothly proceed with various administrative procedures such as relocating the pier within the hosting site and passing the preliminary feasibility study for the North Port Phase 2 redevelopment project. In particular, they plan to seek and implement reasonable policy alternatives in consultation with the Ministry of National Defense regarding the relocation of military facilities within the planned site adjacent to the hosting site.

Public-private joint attraction activities will also be strengthened. President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol visited Busan on the 22nd of last month and met with the chairpersons of nationwide chambers of commerce and representatives of the top 10 conglomerates, urging active support from the business community for the attraction. The business community also decided to establish a private committee to support the Busan World Expo attraction, chaired by Chey Tae-won, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Lee explained, "Companies, including the top 10 conglomerates, have agreed to join forces with the soon-to-be-launched government attraction committee to promote the attraction of the 2030 Busan World Expo."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.