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| Children wave flags promoting Busan's bid to host World Expo 2030 at the Ulsan Hyundai Football Club's stadium in this file photo. Courtesy of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry |
Samsung chief to promote Korea's 2nd-largest city on his trip to Europe, North America
By Park Jae-hyuk
Korea's largest conglomerates have strengthened their partnership with the government ahead of the Chuseok holiday this weekend, in order to go all out for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030, according to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), Thursday.
The KCCI, serving as the headquarters of the civilian committee to support Busan's bid for the World Expo, said that major business groups agreed to intensify their campaigning until a presentation session this November at the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris.
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| First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Jang Young-jin, fourth from left, holds Korea's official application to host the World Expo 2030 in Busan with Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes, third from left, at the BIE office in Paris, Wednesday (local time). Courtesy of Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy |
They came to the agreement as the government delegation submitted an official application to the BIE on Wednesday to host one of the world's largest international events in Korea's second-largest city.
First Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Jang Young-jin, who led the delegation, told BIE Secretary General Dimitri Kerkentzes about the capabilities of Korea and Busan to host the global event. The vice minister also met with representatives of several BIE member countries, as well as the ambassadors of Mongolia and Rwanda, to ask for their support for Busan's bid.
The BIE members will vote in November next year to select the venue for the World Expo 2030 among Busan, Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, Italy's Rome and Ukraine's Odesa. At this moment, Riyadh is regarded as Busan's chief rival.
"Until the selection of the venue, the government will collaborate with the private sector and the National Assembly to make every effort to promote Busan among the 170 BIE member countries," the trade ministry said in a press release.
In response, Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG, Lotte and other conglomerates, which have promised to support Busan's bid to host the World Expo, have decided to use their buildings, stores, professional sport clubs and social media for the intensified promotional campaign during Chuseok.
Samsung Group, which has already advertised Busan at Seoul's COEX and its Galaxy Studio outlets nationwide, has also placed slogans for Busan on the uniforms of the Samsung Lions baseball club and the Suwon Samsung Bluewings football club, as well as in their stadiums.
SK Group has been advertising Busan at SK Telecom's headquarters in Seoul for five minutes every hour.
Hyundai Motor Group has released English content via social media. It also plans to put slogans for Busan on the uniforms of the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors football club and the Kia Tigers baseball club, as well as in their stadiums.
LG Group, which has been playing promotional videos at major airports, decided to advertise Busan to visitors at the stores of LG Electronics, LG Uplus and LG Household & Health Care nationwide.
Lotte Group has been promoting Busan in its department stores, online shopping mall, supermarkets and convenience stores.
POSCO, Hanwha, GS, Hyundai Heavy Industries, Shinsegae and CJ groups will make similar efforts.
"Beginning with the intensified promotion campaign during Chuseok, we will combine forces with all Korean companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises, so as to stimulate nationwide enthusiasm for the World Expo," KCCI Executive Vice Chairman Woo Tae-hee said.
In addition, Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong is likely to visit Europe and North America during the long weekend, not only to overhaul the company's global operations but also to promote Busan to countries in those regions as a special presidential envoy.
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| Samsung Electronics President Rhee In-yong, right, shakes hands with Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith at Samsung Digital City in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, after requesting the Southeast Asian country's support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030. Courtesy of Samsung Electronics |
Samsung Electronics Presidents Rhee In-yong and Park Hark-kyu also met on Wednesday with Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith in Korea to ask for the Southeast Asian country's support for Busan's bid to host the World Expo. The company's executives have been traveling around the world recently to encourage various countries' leaders to vote for Busan.
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