Yoon pledges to drive three state agendas in Busan
President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a meeting with Busan residents at Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center (BPEX), Wednesday. Joint Press Corps-Yonhap
President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged, Wednesday, to ensure the smooth progress of three core state agendas in the southern port city of Busan, in a display of consolation to residents there disappointed by the failed bid to host the World Expo 2030.
The agendas include a project to build a new floating airport on Gadeok Island just off the coast of Busan. The two others are the controversial relocation of state-run Korea Development Bank's headquarters from Seoul to Busan and the redevelopment of Busan North Port. Yoon delivered the message Wednesday during a meeting with local residents and business leaders.
“I want to express my gratitude to Busan citizens who were eager to attract the global fair, and to businesspeople for sparing no efforts to promote Busan’s bid for the Expo,” Yoon said. “Busan should become a southern hub city for the balanced growth of the country. The government will push for the enactment of a special act to turn Busan into a global hub city, so as to speed up our drive for the three key agendas.”
A group of ranking government officials also joined the meeting to reaffirm their willingness to support the agendas.
“We will open the new airport on time and expand air routes in the southern part of the county,” Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Won Hee-ryong said.
The minister of Oceans and Fisheries also pledged to continue building a global logistics cluster in the city, so Busan can transform itself into an international business hub. Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon also presented a set of measures to help turn the southern port city into a global hub.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, poses with business tycoons while eating tteokbokki or spicy rice cakes at a traditional market in the southern port city of Busan, Wednesday. From left are SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Hyosung Group Chairman Cho Hyun-joon, Yoon, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun. Joint Press Corps-Yonhap
Leaders of the nation’s top conglomerates also accompanied Yoon on his visit to Korea's second-largest city. They teamed up with the government for more than a year to bid for the 2030 Expo. But Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh won a two-thirds majority in the first round of voting last week.
Chaebol tycoons, such as Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong and LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, joined the meeting to seek ways to activate the regional economy despite the failed bid for the Expo. Others included SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, Hanwha Group Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan and HD Hyundai Vice Chairman Chung Ki-sun.
Out of the nation’s top four conglomerates, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, were absent from the meeting due to their overseas business schedules. Federation of Korean Industries Chairman Ryu Jin also represented a local business lobby at the event.
After the meeting, Yoon and the tycoons visited Gukje Market, one of the oldest markets in Busan, and ate traditional street food.