First Lady Kim Geon-hee Supports Expo Bid: "Busan is the Lifeline of Korea's Economy"

Attended 'Hangawi in New York' Event in Manhattan, New York, USA
Introducing Busan and Saying "We Want to Give Back the Help We Received"

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, promoted Korea's largest traditional holiday, Hangawi, and the city of Busan to foreign journalists. In support of the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo, First Lady Kim stated, "The maritime city of Busan is the lifeline of the Korean economy and a city like a mother to our economy."

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, promoted Chuseok culture, Korea's largest traditional holiday, and Busan at 'Chuseok in New York' held on the 19th (local time) at Samsung 837 in Manhattan, New York, USA.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 19th (local time), First Lady Kim visited the 'Hangawi in New York' event held at 'Samsung 837' in Manhattan, New York, USA, and said, "We want to share our experience of rising from ruins to develop the best digital advanced industries with the international community and give back the help we have received," lending her support to the Expo bid.

The event, planned to support Korean cultural startups and promote Korea's major holiday Chuseok and the charm of Busan, was attended by foreign journalists from Europe, Asia, and other regions, as well as New York city officials. Through this visit, First Lady Kim encouraged Korean cultural startups and small business owners active in New York.

In particular, as the honorary chairperson of the Korea Tourism Year Committee, First Lady Kim gave a detailed speech introducing Busan's history, its role in economic development, and its attractions. She said, "Decades ago, we endured a fierce three-year war due to communist invasion. At one point, only Busan remained while the invaders ravaged the entire country," adding, "However, with the people's will to protect freedom and the help of the United Nations forces, we built world-class industries from the ruins, including the automobile industry, petrochemical industry, shipbuilding industry, semiconductor industry, secondary battery industry, nuclear power industry, and digital industry."

She toured the Hangawi pop-up featuring Korean cultural startups showcasing handmade furniture, traditional tea, crafts, and Chuseok foods such as songpyeon and sujeonggwa with foreign journalists. At the 'Busan Pojangmacha,' a space symbolizing Busan's food culture, she sampled various dishes including galbi, seafood pajeon, and tteokbokki, introducing Busan's charm as the host city of the Expo.

First Lady Kim has accompanied President Yoon on his overseas trips and engaged in various activities to support the Expo bid. Her activities have drawn attention in the localities she visits. During her visit to Paris in June, a French media outlet reported on her efforts under the headline "Support from South Korea's First Lady Kim Keon-hee." The media reported that she quietly carried out promotional duties for the host city while visiting the Korean Cultural Center in France, holding a vintage record and iced coffee.

She also personally introduced Busan. First Lady Kim said, "Busan was the temporary capital during the Korean War. It is a city that moved me because mothers had to take care of their families during the war," adding, "It is also a city where many artists gathered to create a unique culture." She emphasized, "As the First Lady who has taken it as her mission to protect Korean art, I have come to support Busan."

The keyring used by First Lady Kim is also known to have been personally designed by her. 'BUSAN IS READY' is a slogan created by the 2030 Busan World Expo Bid Committee and Busan City in April to welcome the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE) inspection team. First Lady Kim's keyring fashion first attracted attention when she debuted it on her way to the France-Vietnam tour in June.

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, is tasting tteokbokki with New York City officials and foreign journalists at the "Busan Pocha" set up at the "Hangawi in New York" event held at Samsung 837 in Manhattan, New York, on the 19th (local time). This pocha, installed to promote the Busan Expo, was set up to symbolically showcase Busan's food culture. [Image source=Yonhap News]

First Lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of President Yoon Suk-yeol, is tasting tteokbokki with New York City officials and foreign journalists at the "Busan Pocha" set up at the "Hangawi in New York" event held at Samsung 837 in Manhattan, New York, on the 19th (local time). This pocha, installed to promote the Busan Expo, was set up to symbolically showcase Busan's food culture.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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