SK at forefront of boosting desire for Busan Expo
SK Chairman and KCCI Chairman Chey Tae-won, fourth from left, is escorted along with the BIE inspection team and government and business officials by the four-legged robot "Spot" at The Shilla Seoul hotel in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of KCCI
'KTX wrapping train' and other promotion activities draw attention
By Sah Dong-seok
Korea's desire to host World Expo 2030 is coming in diverse, colorful forms. SK Group, whose Chairman Chey Tae-won is co-chairing the Busan World Expo bidding committee, is showing particularly brisk activities.
SK Innovation has launched full-fledged publicity activities through its tangible and intangible infrastructures across the country. Of all things, the operation of the “KTX wrapping train” in cooperation with KORAIL has played a key role in boosting the mood for the Busan World Expo nationwide.
SK Innovation Vice Chairman Kim Jun, left, meets with Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera in Bangui last October to ask for the African nation's support for Busan's World Expo bid. Courtesy of SK Innovation
The train was wrapped with a message of hope reading “SK joins in the great challenge to host World Expo 2030” and crisscrossed the country, including Seoul and Busan, for two months from last December. The train was decorated with paintings of major structures such as Haeundae Marine City and Gwangan Bridge that symbolize Busan against the background of colors reminiscent of Busan's blue sea. The KTX train was praised for having conveyed blue and dynamic images of Busan to foreign visitors as well as to Koreans through promotional materials, enabling the public to have a quick look at Busan's characteristics and hopeful messages.
SK Innovation employees cheer for Busan's hosting of World Expo 2030 in front of the “KTX wrapping train” depicting SK's desire to host the fair last November. Courtesy of SK Innovation
Promotion activities involving a professional football team run by the group also attracted attention. Jeju United FC, owned by SK Innovation, is one of the original teams created when the K League was established in 1983.
Every year the opening game of the season is a matter of grave concern to the public as well as to football fans. This year, Jeju United prepared an unusual event for its opening game. Before the game began, a circular banner was placed in the center circle with a message supporting Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030. Young football players entered the stadium right before the game began and lifted and waved the banner, causing the center circle to be revealed and the excitement in the stands to run high. Thirty young players participated in the performance to imply the year of 2030. The event could deliver Busan's desire to host World Expo 2030 to many people, including football fans, and the hopeful message mingling young players was well received.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, fifth from left, and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Lee Chang-yang, fourth from left, pose during their visit to SK Innovation's exhibition booth for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030 at Seoul's Gwanghwamun Square, March 30. Courtesy of SK Innovation
A large banner measuring 30 meters wide and 20 meters tall was displayed on the SK Seorin Building in downtown Seoul, where SK Innovation's headquarters are located. It was once the tallest building in Korea, so it's no exaggeration to call it a landmark of central Seoul. On the banner was written the message “SK joins in the great challenge along with the whole country,” against a blue background symbolizing Busan's blue sea. “We put up the banner with the hope that the Busan World Expo will be a memorable festival for people around the world,” an SK official said.
SK Innovation's exhibition booth shows the company's eco-friendly technology under the World Expo 2030's theme of climate change at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, March 30. Courtesy of SK Innovation
Group-wide promotion activities, including by SK Innovation, continue, demonstrating the people's burning ambition for the Busan World Expo. “We will continue to take the lead in creating support programs that can gather the hearts of the people toward the Busan World Expo and win public support,” an SK Innovation spokesman said.