Expo Decisive Day... Yoon: "I Will Keep Running Until the Final Whistle"

Midnight KST on the 29th PT·Final Vote
Expanding Diplomatic and Economic Cooperation Opportunities through Expo Hosting Competition

As the final presentation (PT) and host city vote for the 2030 World Expo, organized by the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE), are set to take place around midnight on the 29th, the Presidential Office plans to actively support the 2030 Busan Expo Organizing Committee, which is engaged in a last-minute bid battle on-site in Paris, France. In particular, the Presidential Office envisions using this Expo bid as an opportunity to fully launch diplomatic and economic cooperation discussions with countries around the world.

President Yoon Seok-yeol presiding over the Cabinet meeting.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over a Cabinet meeting in Yongsan on the morning of the 28th, stating, "The diplomatic corps residing in Paris said that seeing the Korean government and companies working as one team was very impressive and moving," adding, "Team Korea will give its all until the final whistle blows after midnight today."

During his recent state visits to the United Kingdom and Paris, President Yoon said, "Even during this tour, I continuously communicated with heads of state from various countries to appeal for support for the 2030 Busan Expo," and evaluated, "Over the past year and a half of striving for the Busan Expo, South Korea has gained more friends in the international community, and the world has taken notice of South Korea's dynamism and potential."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is conducting final promotional activities in Paris, France, to secure the hosting of the 2030 Busan World Expo, explained the final efforts during a press conference held in Paris on the afternoon of the 27th (local time). 2023.11.28
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Presidential Office is supporting Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is preparing for the final bid negotiations and PT, both in Korea and on-site, during the remaining approximately 14 hours of the 2030 World Expo bid promotion period.

While some predict that Saudi Arabia, a competing country in the Expo bid, has the upper hand, the government maintains the position that "it’s not over until it’s over."

After completing a state visit to the UK from the 23rd to the 25th, President Yoon traveled to Paris to launch a final all-out effort to secure the 2030 Expo for Busan. Notably, President Yoon held a total of 150 meetings with leaders from 96 countries, repeatedly appealing for support for the Busan Expo. Currently, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo is overseeing the final Expo bid activities on-site on behalf of President Yoon. Domestic companies such as Samsung, Hyundai Motor Company, LG, and SK are also engaged in an all-out effort locally.

President Yoon Suk-yeol, who is visiting France to promote the bid for the 2030 Busan World Expo, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the National Day reception held at the Palais Brongniart in Paris on the 24th (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

Spokesperson Lee Do-woon said at a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office the previous day, "President Yoon, the Presidential Office, and the government have done their utmost for the Busan Expo bid," adding, "We will continue to do our best in the remaining day."

The final host city vote for the Expo, in which 182 BIE member countries can participate, will proceed with a first round of voting where if no city obtains two-thirds of the votes, the city with the lowest votes is eliminated and a second round of voting takes place. Therefore, the realistic strategy is to prevent the leading candidate Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from securing two-thirds of the votes in the first round and to push the decision to the second round, where the final outcome will be decided.

The government and companies plan to continue their bid efforts on-site until the very end to maximize voter support. Attention is also focused on the PT speakers who will represent Korea’s final face to promote Busan in this 2030 Expo bid. The PT speakers are currently conducting final rehearsals in Paris. However, information about the PT speakers is being kept strictly confidential for dramatic effect. A senior official from the Presidential Office has stated, "Influential figures on the global stage will appear as speakers."

The government and companies intend to actively utilize the expanded diplomatic relations and market potential by leveraging this opportunity to engage in cooperation discussions with various countries. Although previously focused on major countries in the US, Europe, and Asia, meeting countries for the Expo bid has broadened the scope of cooperation possibilities to emerging industrial countries and developing nations. In particular, since Busan has become widely known worldwide through this effort, it is expected to generate various values in the future.

A Presidential Office official said, "Many said that seeing the government and private sectors working as one team made them realize how great Korea is. A European diplomat met in Paris evaluated that Busan has already achieved great success regardless of the Expo bid," adding, "Through continuous efforts by the government and private sectors, Busan has become a symbolic city of free democracy international solidarity and a global city of future and culture in the international community."

On the afternoon of the 27th (local time), one day before the 173rd General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) deciding the host city for the 2030 World Expo, members of civic groups promoting the Busan Expo are holding cheongsachorong lanterns and shouting "Fighting" at the Seine River cruise ship dock in Paris, France.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

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