BUSAN IN THE RUNNING TO HOST THE WORLD EXPO 2030: LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS BEFORE THE FINAL VOTE FOR THE SOUTH KOREAN CITY

PARIS and BUSAN, South Korea, Oct. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As the date for the selection of the host country for the World Expo 2030 has been announced for November 28, Busan, the second-largest city in Republic of Korea after Seoul, wishes to reaffirm its desire to host this unique event more than ever. Korea aims to turn the World Expo 2030 Busan into a significant milestone that shifts the paradigm of the international community from competition to solidarity by offering unique experiences for global citizens to share and explore various ideas, rather than intensifying competition in the fields of science, technology and cutting-edge industries. World Expo 2030 Busan representatives, gathered today in Paris, have jointly addressed the audience to provide new insights into the project. From left to right: Park Heong-joon, Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City; Jang Sung-min, Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Korea; Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea and Co-chair of the Bid Committee; Chey Tae-won, Chairman of SK and KCCI (Korean Chamber of Commerce & Industry) and Co-chair of the Bid Committee; Oh Young-ju, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs. For the 2030 edition of the World Expo, Busan aims to engage in dialogue and reflection on the theme "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future," at the intersection of technology, humanity, and the environment. A candidacy that looks into the future "Transforming Our World, Navigating Towards a Better Future" is the theme proposed by Busan for its bid to host the World Expo 2030. A theme rooted in the identity of South Korea, which has undergone significant transformation over the past century, overcoming war, national divisions, and poverty. Today, it is one of the world's largest economies. Having transformed from a developing nation to an advanced one, Korea now aspires to solidify its position as a global pivotal state for freedom, peace, and prosperity - a fundamental cornerstone of Korea's diplomacy. Situated at the heart of this remarkable transformation, Busan is a gateway to a better future and reflects the essence of the World Expo itself. Through this theme, Busan places great emphasis on conveying a collective message of hope and responsibility. As the United Nations member states adopted the 2030 Agenda, an ambitious sustainable development program by 2030, the World Expo in Busan has a major role to play in assessing progress on environmental matters and continuing the collective effort for a more sustainable future. "We are in a key transition period towards a more sustainable future, which involves collective responsibility to achieve the sustainable development goals of the 2030 Agenda. We are very proud that Busan is a candidate to host the World Expo 2030 to further the discussion on actions for the benefit of humanity and sustainable development. Busan 2030 will be an expo of solidarity, a festive space to share the history, culture, products, and future visions of countries around the world. South Korea is now one of the world's largest economies, a hotbed of technological and cultural innovation. We have a role to play in bringing nations together and showing the way", says Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister of Korea and Co-Chair of the Bid Committee. An exhibition that aims to be the most inclusive and transformative ever organized Busan wants to convey messages of inclusivity and enable as many countries as possible to participate in its World Expo. To achieve this, the city will provide an allocation of $520 million, the highest ever recorded by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). In an effort to include as many countries as possible to represent all cultures at this 2030 edition,