From Prime Minister to Deputy Minister... Bureaucrats Who Launched an All-Out Expo Campaign

Persuading Foreign Media at Eiffel Tower Cafe
Focusing on 'Casting Vote' African Countries

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is conversing with attendees at the UNESCO Ambassador Dinner Meeting held in Paris, France, on the 14th (local time). Photo by the Prime Minister's Office

The final vote for the Expo host country is just four days away. Within the administration, the Prime Minister, ministers of various departments, and even vice-minister-level officials have all devoted their full efforts to securing the Busan Expo.

Han Duck-soo, co-chairman of the Busan Expo joint bid committee and Prime Minister, chose Paris, France as his first stop during a tour of four European countries last month. At that time, Han and his delegation met directly with foreign journalists at a cafe near the Eiffel Tower to explain why Busan should be selected. On the 12th of this month, he visited France again to meet representatives of member countries of the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE). Although it was a short 4-day, 2-night trip, he conducted meetings and bilateral talks up until just before departure, engaging in promotional activities targeting 61 officials from 50 countries.

In particular, intensive negotiations were conducted with African countries, considered the 'casting vote.' The vanguard was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, Choo Kyung-ho. From September 12 to 15, Choo presided over the 7th Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) Ministerial Meeting held in Busan, meeting delegations from 38 countries. From the 11th to 13th of last month, he attended the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) meetings held in Marrakech, Morocco, appealing for support for Busan. While Choo confirmed a largely favorable atmosphere during bilateral talks, it is known that he refrained from publicizing achievements considering the competitive scrutiny from rival countries.

Visits to Africa by key ministers continued. Jeong Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, has visited Africa three times since taking office. In ten African countries, the 'K-Rice Belt' project to increase rice production is being promoted, and promises were made to provide agricultural development experience and know-how. Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, Moon Visit-gyu, visited the African island nation of Cabo Verde around the last Chuseok holiday, and Bang Ki-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, visited Benin and Guinea-Bissau from the 13th to 19th of this month as a special presidential envoy.

As the Expo host site selection date approaches, not only ministers but also high-ranking officials below vice-minister level have joined the bid efforts. This month alone, Oh Young-joo, 2nd Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; Jeon Byung-geuk, 1st Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Jang Mi-ran, 2nd Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; and Kang Kyung-sung, 2nd Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, have embarked on tours to appeal for Expo support. The Ministry of Economy and Finance, facing overlapping schedules of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting held in San Francisco on the 12th and 13th and the National Assembly budget session, sent Choi Ji-young, Director General for International Economic Affairs, to introduce the Expo bid plan.

On the 21st, a week before the vote, Prime Minister Han said, “The government and private sector are united in a final all-out effort to secure the Busan Expo,” adding, “The President, government officials, and business leaders have traveled the equivalent of over 400 times around the globe, meeting more than 2,700 leaders from about 180 countries to support the Busan Expo bid.”

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