Korea could help solve problems in developing world if Expo bid succeeds

Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chair Chey Tae-won speaks to foreign press at Hwigyumjae in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of KCCI

By Kim Jae-heun

Korea will be in a better position to help solve a wide range of problems facing developing countries if Busan wins a bid to host World Expo in 2030, according to the head of Korea's largest business lobby, Wednesday.“

Korea has developed over the past 70 years and we do not think we've achieved it on our own. Many countries helped us and it is about time that we pay back the favor,” Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) Chairman Chey Tae-won said during a foreign press briefing in Seoul. “World Expos until now focused on showcasing new hardware and up-to-date technologies. Korea wants to approach it in a different way this time ― offering a solution platform to address the social problems that individual countries around the world have.”

Chey, who is also SK Group chairman, serves as co-chair of the Bid Committee for World Expo 2030 Busan.

In May, the KCCI came up with a digital solution platform called WAVE that is designed to collect ideas from online participants to tackle the common challenges faced by societies around the world.

There are 61 pavilions built online for participating countries on WAVE, currently. Each country shares three agenda items of their own and people can come to discuss the issues.

“WAVE aims to put the issues on the table and try to solve them in the seven years leading up to 2030. If the efforts continue, I believe many of the problems will be addressed,” Chey said.

As an example, he cited Ethiopia's learning poverty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in 30 percent of its teenagers not being able to attend school. He added, “Companies can provide various support such as AI-based education programs. The Philippines has a number of islands and there are many medical blind spots. Companies can provide telemedicine solutions to tackle the issue.”

“It is about time that Korea takes responsibility to pay back its debt ― not in the way of making interest payments, but by providing solutions needed by mankind.”

Korea is also striving to gain support from China to win its World Expo bid. There has been talk that China is teaming up with Saudi Arabia to take an advantageous position in hosting the next global event in 2035, though Chey said this is a groundless rumour.

“I heard the rumor that China is hindering Korea, because it would then be Asia hosting the global event two consecutive times and China can be affected in hosting the next World Expo. This is not true under the regulations of Bureau International des Expositions (BIE). I am planning to visit China soon to ask for support,” Chey said.

“I also hope the best for Saudi (Arabia), which, of course, will prepare well for the bid. It is a good competitor … just that we have different views in approaching the way of hosting the World Expo.”

Korea is competing with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Rome, Italy, currently. The winner will be announced by the BIE in November.