Busan aims to win hearts of developing nations in Expo 2030 bid

Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon, left, smiles, as Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks to reporters at a restaurant in the southern port city, Tuesday. Courtesy of Prime Minister's Secretariat

For challenges facing humanity, mayor urges all member states to be part of solution

By Jung Min-ho

BUSAN ― Not all nations have something to boast about at an Expo world fair.

When Joseon, the last dynasty of Korea, participated in the event for the first time in Chicago in 1893, it displayed traditional garments, kites and pottery among other small items in a tiny exhibition space that was less than 85 square meters in area.

Wealthier countries, meanwhile, showed off their latest inventions such as the world's first moving walk and the original Ferris wheel, an 80-meter structure intended to rival the Eiffel Tower, the centerpiece of the previous Paris Expo in 1889.

Korea's rise from that humble beginning ― the story of overcoming Japan's colonial occupation, war, extreme poverty and many other formidable challenges that followed ― is still an inspiration to the world and the ability to share that experience firsthand is the biggest strength of the country, as Busan seeks to host the World Expo in 2030, according to Park Heong-joon, the mayor of the southeastern port city.

"After meeting many leaders around the world while promoting our Expo bid, I learned that each nation has its unique problems. Some are struggling with food shortages, while others are suffering from the poor quality of public healthcare services or a dearth of energy," Park told reporters at a recent meeting.

"As a country that has experienced the very same issues in the past several decades, Korea is in the best position to help them find solutions."

His remarks come as Busan attempts to differentiate itself from other bidders ― Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Italy's Rome and Ukraine's Odesa ― ahead of an official visit by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), an organization that supervises the Expos. Its delegation is scheduled to travel to Seoul and Busan for an inspection from April 2 to 7.

In the run-up to a vote to select the host country of World Expo 2030 at the governing body's general assembly in November, the city's bid promotion committee plans to concentrate its resources on highlighting the Busan Initiatives, through which it offers long-term support for countries seeking to emulate Korea's economic development by providing training and know-how rather than, say, financial aid for one-time construction projects.

Cho You-jang, director-general of Busan's committee for the Expo 2030 bid, speaks about the city's port development plans for the international event in Busan, Tuesday. Courtesy of Prime Minister's Secretariat

"More than two thirds of the member states fall into the category of developing countries, which hold the key to the outcome," said Cho You-jang, director-general of the committee.

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"Many countries in Africa and Central and South America show great interest in learning about Korea's social and economic model, while Pacific island members are deeply concerned about climate change, one of the main issues we offer to resolve through the Busan Initiatives."

Such efforts by Busan aim not only to garner support for the right to host the 2030 event, but also to change the very nature of it.

Expos used to be a platform where some of the most advanced technologies were showcased. Over the past century, however, that role has been increasingly played by tech- or economy-focused events like the Consumer Electronics Show. Thus, future Expos should rather serve as a platform where different visions and ideas are shared and visionaries can connect and address issues facing humanity, the mayor said.

"Given the opportunity, Busan will seek to transform it into a platform where every country presents solutions for different yet shared challenges. While they prepare themselves for Expo 2030 and beyond, Korea and Busan will continue to work with countries and cities around the world as their reliable partners," Park said.

This photo shows an envisioned floating community near the coast of Busan / Courtesy of OCEANIX, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group

World's 1st sustainable floating community next to Expo venue

Busan's efforts have already begun to turn one of its ports, North Port inside the Port of Busan, into a venue for tens of millions of expected visitors during a six-month period, with a futuristic opera house under construction and the authorities planning to expand and improve the area's infrastructure.

But one of the highlights of the project will not be found on land.

In collaboration with U.N.-Habitat, a United Nations agency working for a better urban future, the city government plans to create space for a floating community near its shore by 2030.

Named as Oceanix Busan, the objective of building the prototype is to find out whether such floating communities can be possible, affordable and sustainable when countries around the world may have to adapt to rising sea levels amid climate change, city officials said.

When completed, the community will have room for some 300 people, which, in theory, can be expanded easily to house 10,000 or more residents.

An aerial view of North Port area inside the Port of Busan after the completion of development as the venue for World Expo 2030 / Courtesy of Busan Metropolitan Government

If everything goes as planned and hoped, visitors to Expo 2030 in Busan will have an opportunity to stop by or briefly reside there, where they can ponder over the global issue from a fresh point of view ― one that especially threatens the lives of people living in coastal areas around the world such as Busan.

This and many other climate-conscious policies in the city will leave a positive impression on anyone who cares about the issue, including BIE delegates, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said.

"Korea can ― and should ― show the world that it can play a central role in the international fight against climate change and save the planet for our future generations," Han said.

"This, I think, will notably differentiate Korea from other Expo contenders," he added.