SEOUL — In a recent diplomatic effort, South Korea’s Foreign Minister Park Jin has actively sought international support for the nation’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo. The appeal was made during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting held in San Francisco, as reported by the foreign ministry on Wednesday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park Jin emphasized that Busan, the proposed host city, would provide a prime setting for addressing critical global issues such as climate change, the digital divide, and inequality. This diplomatic push comes two weeks ahead of the announcement of the World Expo host by the Bureau International des Expositions, the governing body for the event. South Korea, vying to host the expo in Busan, faces competition from Italy and Saudi Arabia. The decision is scheduled for announcement on November 28. In 2005, Busan notably hosted South Korea’s first APEC summit, highlighting its capacity for holding large-scale international events.