President Yoon "Considering Dispatching Presidential Special Envoy to Secure Busan Expo"

Attendance at the Launch Ceremony of the Private Committee Supporting the 2030 Busan Expo Bid and the Public-Private Joint Strategy Meeting

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] On the 31st, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated regarding the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo, "The government must promptly prepare plans to form and dispatch a negotiation delegation," adding, "If necessary, we will also consider dispatching a presidential special envoy."

President Yoon attended the launch ceremony of the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Support Private Committee and the public-private joint strategy meeting held at the Busan International Passenger Terminal that afternoon, saying, "We must unite all our capabilities." The public-private joint strategy meeting is the first such meeting under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, which has designated the Busan Expo bid as a national agenda item.

The private committee, chaired by Chey Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, includes major domestic companies such as Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK, LG, Lotte, POSCO, Hanwha, GS, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Shinsegae, and CJ as member companies.

From the government side, Minister Cho Seung-hwan of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Minister Park Jin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the joint strategy meeting with the private committee. Public institutions present included Yoo Jung-yeol, President of the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), Son Hyuk-sang, Chairman of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), Shin Sang-yong, Acting President of the Korea Tourism Organization, and Kang Jun-seok, President of the Busan Port Authority.

In his opening remarks, President Yoon said, "To secure the 2030 Busan World Expo, we have established a government bid committee under the Prime Minister, with ministers from related departments participating, and created a secretariat dedicated to the Expo bid within the Presidential Office. Today marks the official launch of the Bid Support Private Committee, which will consolidate private sector bid capabilities."

He continued, "I urge the Bid Support Private Committee to actively engage in negotiation activities in cooperation with related ministries."

President Yoon also emphasized, "The role of overseas diplomatic missions is very important. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should prepare various support measures to enable overseas missions to actively participate in bid activities and encourage them. The Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, and Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport should do their utmost to establish the foundation for the bid."

He added, "The Busan World Expo is a task that must be achieved for the entire nation. It will be a valuable opportunity for South Korea to lead global issues and share our experiences and strengths with the international community. What can’t be done if the private sector and government join forces? Let’s give it a try. I will also personally do my best to oversee this," he reiterated.

Chairman Chey Tae-won promised, "For the future of the nation, the bid for the Busan World Expo is not someone else’s business but our own, and the business community will do its best. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and companies are discussing and proceeding with selecting target countries for each company to focus on. We will mobilize the global networks held by companies to carry out comprehensive bid activities."

He added, "Communication is the most important factor for the government and companies to become one team. We will closely cooperate with the government and participating companies and proceed swiftly."

Meanwhile, prior to the meeting, President Yoon viewed the Expo site at the Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center and received explanations related to the redevelopment project of Busan North Port and the Expo exhibition site.

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