Choi Tae-won: "I hope South Korea becomes a country that can contribute to the world"

Emphasis on Hosting the Busan World Expo at Foreign Press Conference

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry and SK Group, expressed his ambition to make South Korea a country that can contribute to the world through hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo.

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is speaking at a press conference held at Huigyeomjae in Bukchon, Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 26th.

At a foreign press club meeting held on the 26th at Huigyeomjae in Bukchon, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Chairman Choi said, "Hosting the Busan Expo means that Korea has grown this much over 70 years, but we do not think we have grown alone. Many countries have helped us, and now it is time to give back."

He added, "It is not about holding the Expo in the same way as before. Traditionally, Expos have been hardware and technology showcase exhibitions. If we built them hard for six months and then tore them down after six months, now something more meaningful is needed," emphasizing, "A software approach is necessary to solve the long-standing problems each country faces, so we want to create a solution platform."

Chairman Choi explained the Wave platform, created to solve humanity's problems for the Busan Expo bid, saying, "Currently, 61 national pavilions have been built. Inside, you can discuss issues with people from those countries," and added, "By identifying these problems and continuously working to solve them over about seven years until 2030, I believe many immediate issues can be resolved."

He gave examples, saying, "In Ethiopia, 30% of youth cannot attend school due to COVID-19, leading to learning poverty. Companies can provide various support, including vocational training and AI-based education startups," and explained, "Turkey needs infrastructure recovery due to earthquake damage. The Philippines has many islands with medical blind spots. Introducing telemedicine can solve these problems."

Regarding Saudi Arabia, a competing candidate for hosting, he said, "Saudi Arabia is also well-prepared and a good candidate," but added, "The difference is that we are thinking about a new change with a solution-oriented approach and saying the nature of the Expo needs to change. We have been preparing diligently for five years to share solutions and contribute to humanity's sustainability."

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is speaking at a foreign press club meeting held on the 26th at Huigyeomjae in Bukchon, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

When asked about China allegedly obstructing South Korea's Expo bid, Chairman Choi responded, "There is no evidence or news that China is obstructing," and explained, "China plans to host the Expo in 2035. With Japan hosting in Osaka in 2025, Busan in 2030, and China in 2035, it would be too concentrated in Asia, which is not advantageous for China. I have heard that China opposes Seoul's bid, but that is not a fact."

He also stated, "China is our number one trade partner, and there is no way to eliminate that at once, so it is currently irreplaceable," adding, "One of the biggest reasons Korea enjoyed high growth for 30 years is that we effectively utilized China's role. We built factories in China and used low wages to achieve significant growth. However, China no longer plays that role and is transforming its economy, highlighting a more competitive China."

Regarding specific plans for future activities to promote the Busan Expo bid, Chairman Choi said, "We plan to contact as many countries as possible by continent. You will likely see many businesspeople visiting various countries," and noted, "There is a lot to do in Paris, so as time goes on, I expect to spend more time in Paris than in Seoul."

He added, "On October 9, an Expo-related seminar and gala dinner are scheduled. We are planning performances and K-pop," and said, "We intend to promote the Busan Expo as much as possible and persuade people to understand its content."

Choi Tae-won, Chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is speaking at a foreign press club meeting held on the 26th at Huigyeomjae in Bukchon, Jongno-gu, Seoul.

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