SK Innovation Competes to Host '2030 Busan Expo' in Seoul, Jeju, and Europe

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong] SK Innovation and its eight subsidiaries (SK Energy, SK Geocentric, SK On, SK Lubricants, SK IE Technology, SK Incheon Petrochem, SK Trading International, and SK Earth On) are actively engaging in support activities for the bid to host the 2030 Busan World Expo.

On the 21st, SK Innovation announced that it began screening a video wishing for the successful bid of the Busan Expo on the large media wall in the lobby of the first floor of the SK Seorin Building headquarters in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Starting with the promotional video at the Seoul headquarters, SK Innovation affiliates plan to launch full-scale promotional activities for the Busan Expo bid using tangible and intangible infrastructure nationwide.

Activities in Jeju have also commenced. Jeju United FC, a professional soccer team operated by SK Energy, is delivering Expo promotional messages through player uniforms, the team bus, and the electronic scoreboard at Jeju World Cup Stadium. Jeju forward Kim Jugong recently attracted soccer fans' attention by performing a celebration after scoring in a match, holding up a banner that read, "2030 Busan World Expo bid, SK and Jeju UTD will work together."

Support for the Busan Expo bid by SK Innovation affiliates began under the encouragement of Vice Chairman Kim Jun. Recently, Vice Chairman Kim conveyed a message to key executives of subsidiaries that SK Innovation affiliates should contribute to supporting the Busan Expo bid. Accordingly, representatives from each company have been organized, and company-wide activities are underway. Last month, Vice Chairman Kim visited Poland, met with the Minister of Economic Development and Technology, and personally requested support for the Busan Expo bid.

SK Innovation is actively utilizing various opportunities, such as including supportive phrases for the Busan Expo bid on souvenirs at recruitment briefings and attaching Expo promotional logos to company introduction materials at external events. SK Energy plans to display banners with Busan Expo-related messages at gas stations and charging stations in the metropolitan area, Busan, and Gyeongnam regions. SK Lubricants recently added supportive phrases for the bid to its TV commercial for its lubricant product (ZIC), contributing to raising awareness of the Busan Expo.

Overseas activities will continue as well. SK Geocentric plans to broadcast Busan Expo videos and include the Expo bid logo in product brochures at the 'K-Show Exhibition' (the world's largest plastics and rubber products expo) held in Germany next month.

SK Innovation plans to continue promoting the Busan Expo bid through various activities until the final decision is made. An SK Innovation official said, "Since Chairman Chey Tae-won took on the role of private sector chairman supporting the 2030 Expo bid, the group has actively continued activities such as organizing the WE (World Expo) TF at the group level. SK Innovation will also do its utmost to support the Busan Expo bid both domestically and internationally on a company-wide scale."