President Yoon
Suk-yeol and his wife visited Paris on the second day of their trip aimingto
secure the successful hosting of the 2030 Busan World Expo. On the evening of
November 24th (local time), they attended the official National Day reception
at the Brongniart Palace in Paris, marking the final official event of their
visit.
The President's
visit, coming approximately five months after his last visit to Paris in June
for the 4th presentation by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) and
an official reception, is highly unusual. Such frequent visits to a single
country within a year underscore the President's strong commitment to the
success of hosting the 2030 Busan World Expo.
The National Day
reception, themed "Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better
Future," aligns with the theme of the 2030 Busan World Expo. Approximately
600 attendees, including key figures from the French government, expatriates,
ambassadors from various countries, and representatives from BIE member
countries, participated.
During the
reception, President Yoon and the First Lady reflected on the significance of
the National Foundation Day, delivering a speech that acknowledged Korea's
resilience throughout its history, from overcoming Japanese colonial rule to
the challenges of the Korean War. Emphasizing Korea's role as a global
responsible nation, they expressed a strong commitment and vision, pledging to
lead in global solidarity through the 2030 Busan World Expo.
On November 28th,
during the BIE General Assembly, the President and the First Lady engaged in
last-minute negotiations to attract support for the 2030 World Expo bid,
directly appealing to BIE representatives who will vote on the host city. Major
business figures, including representatives from SK, Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and
Lotte, joined the reception to support the unified "Korea Team" in
negotiations with BIE member countries.
Furthermore, the
National Day reception showcased Busan's unique strengths as a logistics hub in
Northeast Asia and a driver of Korea's economic growth. It provided an
opportunity to highlight Korea's attractiveness through its food, music, and
traditional culture, leaving a lasting impression on BIE representatives just
before the crucial vote.
This visit to
Paris, strategically conducted close to the BIE General Assembly, is considered
a high-level, impactful effort to influence the voting decisions of undecided
member countries. The Korean government plans to leverage this momentum and
make every effort to secure a successful bid until the voting at the General
Assembly.