by Hwakjin Ra / Haemin Kim

[ENG] An international expo promoted by the Korean government to be held at Busan in 2030. 

 

▲ This photo, shows Busan. (Yonhap)

The Korean government is actively making efforts to attract the international community to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan.

Although the application was submitted to the BIE (Bureau International des Expositions, an intergovernmental organization in charge of overseeing and regulating World Expos) last year, the original plan began in 2014 and was decided to be promoted as a national project at the 2019 State Council meeting.

 

 

▲ This photo, shows Prime Minister Han Duck-soo giving a speech to support for the Busan Expo. (Yonhap)

 

Recently, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo attended the 170th BIE General Assembly held in Paris, France and gave a presentation to appeal for the support of Busan Expo.

The venue of Expo 2030 will be decided in November 2023 based on procedures including on-site checking procedures. However, it must be voted by ⅔ BIE members to finalize the venue for the Expo 2030. 

Currently, cities including Busan, Riyadh (Saudi) and Rome (Italy) are competing to host the 2030 Expo.

If the event is confirmed, the Busan Expo will be held around the northern port of Busan from May 1, 2030 under the theme of “Transforming our world, navigating toward a better future” for 6 months.

◇ What is an Expo?

EXPO refers to an international exposition in which countries around the world participate and jointly display products from each country. It was first held in London in 1851, and in 1928, the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions was signed in Paris, providing the framework for international operation.

Industrial products, arts and crafts, are exhibited, allowing products containing the latest technologies from each country to be viewed.

Currently, the expo is largely divided into the Registered Exposition, which is held every five years under the supervision of the BIE, and the Recognized Exposition, which is held between the Registered Expos.

 

▲ This photo, shows the 2020 Dubai Expo. (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, shows the 2020 Dubai Expo. (Yonhap)

Registration Expos are held in years ending with the number 0 or 5. With the most recent Registration Expo being Expo 2020 Dubai, the next Registration Expo will be held in Osaka, Japan.

The 2030 World Expo is a registered expo.

◇ Previous expos in Korea: 1993 Daejeon Expo 2012 Yeosu Expo

▲ This photo, shows the EXPO Hanbit Tower in Daejeon. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) 

 

▲ This photo, shows the opening ceremony of the Daejeon Expo in 1993. (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, shows the Big-O pavilion of the Yeosu Expo site on Yeosu-City in Seoul. (Yonhap)

 

▲ This photo, shows the 2012 Yeosu Expo. (Yonhap)
Korea (then Joseon) installed its first national pavilion and participated in the 1893 World's Fair held in Chicago, USA. Subsequently, Korea participated in the Paris World's Fair in 1900, but could not participate in the World's Fair for a while due to Japanese colonial rule and the Korean War. However, it began to participate in the Seattle World’s fair in 1962.

Korea has never held a registration expo before. If the 2030 Busan Expo will be successfully held, it will be the first registered expo held by Korea.

Korea has only held two recognized expos, namely the 1993 Daejeon Expo and the 2012 Yeosu Expo.

 

The 1993 Daejeon Expo was especially held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Korea's first participation in the Expo.

The Daejeon Expo had a great impact on the exhibition and convention industry in Korea, and in fact, the Korean word “Dowoomi” first originated from here, meaning “person helping others,” and “hiring others to help others.” The “narrator model,” that explains the exhibits, was also generalized in Korea after the Daejeon Expo.

◇ Stars such as BTS and Lee Jung-jae help to attract the Busan Expo

Famous Korean stars also stepped forward to help host the Busan Expo.

 

▲ This photo, shows actor Lee Jung-jae. (Yonhap)

Lee Jung-jae, the lead actor of “Squid Game,” was requested to take on the role of being the first ambassador of the 2030 Busan Expo by Busan Mayor Park Hyeong-joon at the end of last year.

 

 

▲ This photo, shows the "virtual influencer" ROZY. (Yonhap)

In 2022 March, a “virtual influencer,” a virtual human, ROZY, was appointed as the second ambassador.

 

▲ This photo, shows the group BTS. (Yonhap)

Recently, BTS also decided to accept the role of an ambassador.

BTS agreed to fully support Busan's bid to host the World Expo in 2030, including holding a global concert in the southern port city of Busan. Hybe, the entertainment company behind BTS, also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Busan city government to cooperate on the city's promotional projects for the prestigious convention overseen by the International Bureau of Expositions (BIE).

Under the MOU, BTS will serve as a public relations ambassador for the bid and hold a global concert in Busan to wish for the city's success in the bid.

Online promotional activities via social media are also included in BTS' to-do list for Busan.

 

 

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