Yoon: "Busan Expo to Provide Solidarity Platform"... Final Bid Battle in Paris

Dinner with BIE Representatives Immediately After Arrival in Paris
Schedule Also Includes Luncheon and Republic of Korea National Day Reception

President Yoon Suk-yeol launched an all-out campaign on the 23rd (local time) in Paris, France, to secure the hosting rights for the 2030 World Expo. During this schedule, President Yoon plans to meet as many representatives of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) from various countries as possible to persuade those who might withdraw their support for other candidate cities or have not yet decided on a candidate city.

On the evening of the 23rd, President Yoon attended the "BIE Representatives Invitation Dinner" held at the InterContinental Hotel in Paris, where he actively promoted the bid by meeting with the diplomatic corps stationed in Paris and the BIE delegation.

In his dinner speech, President Yoon mentioned Korea’s experience of overcoming the devastation of the Korean War to achieve the "Miracle on the Han River," highlighting not only economic and political accomplishments but also the development of cultural industries. He expressed his intention to share Korea’s growth experience with the international community through hosting the 2030 Busan Expo.

Since all 182 BIE member countries have one equal vote in the Expo site selection, his remarks are interpreted as an effort to attract votes from emerging industrial countries and developing nations. If no city receives more than two-thirds of the votes in the BIE General Assembly vote on the 28th, a second round of voting will be held by eliminating the city with the fewest votes one by one.

President Yoon stated, "The Republic of Korea aims to share its development experience with the international community through the 'Busan Initiative' and take the lead in addressing global challenges such as the climate crisis and issues faced by the Global South." He added, "The 2030 Busan Expo will provide a platform of solidarity where resources are shared, and it will be a cultural expo where all participating countries showcase their unique cultures and traditions."

He also said, "The Busan Expo will be a meeting place that connects future generations of humanity, where young people challenging new dreams and opportunities will inspire each other," and added, "I look forward to seeing you again at the 2030 Busan Expo, which will offer the largest support package ever."

President Yoon Suk-yeol and his wife Kim Keon-hee arrived at Paris Orly International Airport on the 23rd (local time) and are moving after disembarking from Air Force One, their dedicated aircraft. President Yoon will continue efforts to host the 2030 Busan World Expo in France.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Officials from various countries who attended the event said, "It was an opportunity to reaffirm Korea’s determination to host the 2030 World Expo and the cultural capabilities of Korea and Busan," and the Presidential Office reported that they evaluated Korea’s efforts to contribute to the international community and build peace, especially based on the fact that the Busan Expo could become a new platform for intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding of diversity.

They also expressed their admiration for President Yoon’s unprecedented close engagement with the heads of state and said, "The government and private sectors running together like a three-legged race as one team to win the Expo bid was also impressive. This event gave us expectations and confidence that Korea’s efforts will indeed be different." Former French Minister of Culture Fleur Pellerin, who attended the dinner, cited two reasons to support Busan: the "spread of liberal democratic values" and "Hallyu (Korean Wave)."

Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, who attended the event, said, "Following Korea’s science and technology, K-pop, and K-food, Busan is gaining attention," and proposed a toast, saying, "Regardless of the results on the 28th, Korea will keep its promises to other countries." Chairman Chung also shared his thoughts, saying, "Through this bidding process, I have made many new friends," and proposed a toast for these new friends.

Near the end of the dinner, President Yoon went around the tables appealing for support from representatives of various countries. He engaged attendees by asking, "Have you ever been to Busan?" and took photos with them while wishing for their countries’ development and prosperity. At the table where Shin Dong-bin, Chairman of Lotte Group, was seated, President Yoon emphasized Busan once again by saying, "Lotte’s headquarters is also in Busan," and mentioned that Lotte owns a famous baseball team based in Busan.

The event, which was conducted through Korean culture as a medium, saw the full participation not only of presidential aides but also government officials, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in France, and the UNESCO delegation. Business leaders such as Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, and Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin actively participated from the private sector to request support from various countries.

President Yoon is also scheduled to host a luncheon for BIE representatives and a reception for Korea’s national day on the 24th.

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