Hyundai Motor Group Accelerates Efforts to Host Busan World Expo in Europe

Kia President Song Hoseong Sets Off to Visit Three European Countries

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Hyundai Motor Group is launching a campaign to win support from European countries for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid. Europe is the region with the largest number of 48 member countries within the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE).

On the 23rd, Hyundai Motor Group announced that Kia President Song Hoseong departed to visit three European countries: Serbia, Albania, and Greece.

President Song Hoseong plans to meet key government officials in Serbia, Albania, and Greece over a 5-night, 6-day schedule to request their support and cooperation for the Busan World Expo bid.

He will explain that Korea has successfully served as a bridge between developing and developed countries based on its experience of achieving democracy and economic development in a short period, and that it possesses the experience and capabilities to propose solutions to global issues such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the digital divide, thereby conveying Busan’s capacity and determination to host the World Expo.

In particular, he plans to emphasize that Busan, as Korea’s second-largest city and a port city, is a transportation and logistics hub connecting Eurasia and the Pacific, and at the same time, it is the optimal city to host the World Expo with world-class tourism infrastructure, cultural content, and extensive experience in hosting large international events.

Additionally, President Song Hoseong will explain Hyundai Motor Group’s competitiveness as a global leader in electric vehicle adoption and infrastructure development and seek future cooperation plans.

The theme of the 2030 Busan World Expo has been set as “The Great Transformation of the World, Voyage Toward a Better Future” under the recognition that addressing humanity’s greatest crises?climate change and inequality?requires fundamental transformations across various fields rather than gradual or partial changes.

The decision on whether Busan will host the 2030 World Expo will be made by a vote of the 170 member countries of the International Bureau of Expositions around November next year.

A Hyundai Motor Group official stated, “The Busan World Expo will be a meaningful event to collectively consider and find solutions to problems faced by people worldwide, such as climate change,” and added, “Hyundai Motor Group plans to actively promote not only Busan’s unique attractions and differentiating points as the host city of the World Expo but also the true value of the Busan World Expo.”

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