PROMOTIONAL ENVOYS. What better way to sway voters of the 2030 World Expo hosting than by tapping the seven members of the globally famous BTS band as ambassadors. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (2nd from left, front row) joints BTS (back row) during the appointment ceremony in Seoul on July 19, 2022. (Yonhap)
SEOUL – The vote for the host city of the 2030 World Expo is set to take place in Paris on Tuesday, with South Korea's southeastern city of Busan making last-ditch efforts to pull off an upset in the competition against two other candidates.
The host country will be selected by the member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), the body responsible for overseeing the globally prestigious event with the potential to generate economic benefits and stimulate job creation, during its general assembly later in the day.
Busan is contending against Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and Rome, Italy.
South Korean delegates and business leaders, led by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, have been making their last-minute pitch in Paris to bring the event to Busan, by meeting with delegates from BIE member states to articulate Busan's vision and competence in transforming the World Expo into a platform addressing global issues.
"Until the final whistle is blown, both the government and the private sector will exert their utmost efforts," Han told reporters in Paris on late Monday.
Han also quoted President Yoon Suk Yeol as saying, "Give your best until the final whistle is blown."
Yoon returned home Sunday from a trip to Europe that included a state visit to Britain and a final campaign in France to bring the 2030 World Expo to Busan.
Busan is believed to be in a tight race against Riyadh, which has conducted a significant marketing campaign from the early stages.
"It has been confirmed that in the last one or two days, Saudi Arabia has shaken the support for South Korea and we have also managed to take away support from Saudi Arabia in reverse," a ranking government official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has joined the campaign efforts to galvanize support for Busan.
"Busan is the starting point to make sustainable development for the international community so that every country can live better. It's not the destination," Ban told reporters.
The World Expo, officially known as International Registered Exhibitions, has a legacy of fostering global innovation and cultural exchange since 1851. The event can last up to six months, with international participants constructing their pavilions on the Expo site.
Busan is bidding to host the World Expo 2030 between May 1 and Oct. 31, 2030, under the theme "Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future."
The 2030 expo will follow the 2025 expo in Osaka, Japan.
Local authorities estimate the Busan Expo would bring economic benefits worth 61 trillion won (US$47 billion) and attract over 50 million tourists. More than 500,000 new jobs are also expected to be created.
At the general assembly later in the day, each of the three candidates will present their projects, followed by a secret ballot vote by government-appointed delegates representing member states.
During the presentation, South Korea plans to emphasize the Busan Expo serving as a platform addressing humanity's challenges, including war and conflict, the digital divide, and climate change.
"During the final presentation, we will highlight the unique strengths of the Busan Expo, including the efforts and desires of our citizens and government over the past decade, Busan's charm, and the support from participating countries," a government official said, on the condition of anonymity.
Busan plans to transform a 3.43-square-kilometer area of partially reclaimed land at a port into a venue, according to officials. The proposed site will be accessible via a hydrogen-powered tram from a new airport on the nearby island, set to be completed in late 2029.
According to the BIE, the vote will be cast based on one vote per country by 182 BIE member state representatives during the BIE General Assembly.
In the actual voting, either 179 or 180 member states are expected to participate, as some of the member states have failed to secure voting rights after failing to pay contributions.
Any candidate winning two-thirds of the vote will be decided as the host city. If no candidate wins a two-thirds majority, the top two candidates will advance to a runoff vote. Many observers believe the final race will likely be between Busan and Riyadh. (Yonhap)
