BIE Inspection Team Visits Korea … 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Support Group Says "We Will Create a Turning Point for a Comeback Victory"

The International Bureau of Expositions (Bureau International des Expositions, BIE) inspection team visited South Korea on the 2nd to conduct an on-site inspection of Busan, the candidate city for the 2030 World Expo.

According to Busan City, the BIE inspection team visited South Korea from the 2nd for a 5-night, 6-day schedule to conduct an on-site inspection of the candidate city for the 2030 World Expo.

The inspection team consists of a total of eight members, including Patrick Specht, the German-born Chair of the BIE Administrative and Budgetary Committee and team leader; Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, BIE Secretary-General; Kevin Isaac, representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis; Manuel Salchli, representative of Switzerland; Ferdinand Nagy, representative of Romania; and three BIE Secretariat staff members.

The inspection team, which arrived at Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 2nd, was personally welcomed by Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun and Yoon Sang-jik, Secretary-General of the 2030 Busan World Expo. On the 3rd, they will begin the official inspection schedule with a meeting with Minister Lee Chang-yang of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the main government department in charge of the World Expo.

Busan City and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Support Group announced that the schedule includes ▲ four official presentations of the bid plan and Q&A sessions ▲ meetings with key figures from the government, National Assembly, and businesses ▲ visits to the planned venue (Busan North Port area) ▲ and various welcoming and cultural events.

Busan Mayor Park Hyung-jun and Yoon Sang-jik, Secretary General of the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Committee, are meeting and conversing with the International Exhibitions Bureau inspection team at the protocol office of Incheon Airport.

First, the inspection team will meet with key figures including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to confirm Korea’s commitment and capability to host the Expo. On the 3rd, they will meet with the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On the 5th, they are scheduled to meet with Cho Seung-hwan, Minister of Oceans and Fisheries. On the same day, they will visit the planned venue, Busan North Port, and tour the promotional center and observatory at the Busan Passenger Terminal, which recently completed renovations.

Various receptions and dinners with key figures from all walks of life are also planned. On the 3rd, an economic luncheon hosted by Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, will be held with major business leaders attending. On the 4th, a dinner hosted by the Busan Mayor with key figures attending, on the 5th a luncheon with civic groups, and on the 6th an event with the future generation are scheduled.

On the evening of the 6th, a farewell dinner will be held with key figures from Busan City and the bid committee participating.

A variety of cultural and experiential events for the inspection team will also take place. On the evening of the 3rd, the team will participate in the Busan Expo bid support event “Light from Gwanghwamun” at Gwanghwamun Square to directly experience the enthusiasm of the Korean people for the Busan Expo bid.

Additionally, on the 4th, the team will visit Busan Eulsukdo Ecological Park to witness the realization of “Sustainable Living With Nature,” one of the main themes of the 2030 Busan Expo, and participate in an experience of releasing rehabilitated animals back into nature.

On the evening of the 5th, the team will attend the “K-Culture Night” event at the Busan Cinema Center, showcasing K-Culture, which is leading global culture.

On the 6th, they will visit the world’s only “Busan UN Memorial Cemetery,” designated by the UN, to reaffirm the meaning of achieving world peace through the Expo, and then attend the Expo fireworks show at Gwangalli Beach.

The M Drone Light Show, hoping for the successful bid of the 2030 Busan World Expo, is currently taking place at Gwangalli Beach.

The host city for the 2030 World Expo will be decided after this on-site inspection and the 4th competitive presentation at the 172nd BIE General Assembly at the end of June, with the final vote by 171 BIE member countries at the 173rd General Assembly at the end of November.

Currently, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Ukraine are competing to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan.

Mayor Park Hyung-jun said, “To convey Busan’s differentiated competitiveness compared to competing cities to the inspection team, we designated the inspection period as Expo Week and mobilized all administrative capabilities by involving citizens and related organizations to thoroughly plan and prepare the inspection schedule.”

He added, “If we created momentum to turn the tide in our favor by overwhelming competing countries at the 3rd competitive presentation held last November, we will use this on-site inspection as a stepping stone for a comeback victory,” expressing his determination.

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