Busan Expo 2030 is a Rainbow to Shine ASEAN-Korea Partnership
By Chhay Sophal
Busan (8 November 2022): It is not the first time that the Republic of Korea organized an international-standard exhibition. Two big events — Expos in Daejeon in 1993 and Yeosu in 2012 — were done successfully.
But Busan Expo 2030 is being prepared at the time when the world is challenging economic crisis, inflation, and COVID-19 pandemic, issue of South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, including the situation in Ukraine and threat of using nuclear weapons.
As a tourist destination with culture, entertainment, and beautiful natural environments, Korea’s second-largest city of Busan with 3.5 million residents, is expected to host the Expo in 2030 which part of the world sports in the Korean Peninsular.
Towards the event, there is much preparing while President Yoon Suk-yeol and Korean people are steering an all-out campaign to bring the World Expo 2030 to Busan.
Beyond the sport event, South Korea will gain huge pride and reputation for organizing such global sport gathering. The event will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the country’s major historic and cultural events.
Speaking to his Busan citizens on Busan Metropolitan City webpage, Park Heong-joon, the 39th Mayor, showed his big dreams for Busan saying that “The 2030 Busan World EXPO is a symbol of this transformation and will become a catalyst for further growth.”
He said hosting the World Expo is not just about hosting another mega event, but it is part of the process to cement Busan’s status as a global hub city.
Busan Expo 2030 is not far different from the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) 2023 in May when Cambodia is the host. With the theme of “Sport: Live in Peace”, the Kingdom is to organise the regional games for the first time after more than 60 years, and it expects that the regional sport event can play an important role in diplomacy and international relations as well as an opportunity to cultural exchange and life experience from nation to another. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has expressed the country’s pride, dignity and honour for being host and urged his countrypeople and the member states of the SEA Games 2023 and the ASEAN Para Games to mobilize their necessary resources and capacity.
“Cambodia has been waiting for 64 years to host SEA Games and the ASEAN Para Games. We have missed this opportunity many times as we have to ensure our full capacity and mobilize the necessary resources for excellent and smooth organization of this spectacular regional sport event with a high sense of responsibility,” said the Prime Minister who is also the chairman of the National Paralympic Committee of Cambodia.
On behalf of the people of Cambodia, he warmly invites the community of Southeast Asia to witness Cambodia 2023 in person and support their nations’ athletes, and would be deeply honoured by “your presence in our country during Cambodia 2023 in celebration of peace,” said the Prime Minister.
Not far difference from SEA GAMES 2022, Busan Expo 2030 can make the world to enjoy not only the sports but also cultural exchange, solidarity, cooperation, and friendship. At the same time national and international guests can also view Busan’s natural environment with harmonious relationship of mountains, rivers and sea like Mayor Park Heong-joon said “I want to build Busan into a global hub city that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Singapore and Hong Kong.”
“I very much believe we can and should pursue greatness. Yet, this is not just about Busan…Busan’s charms as a culture and tourism city are echoing throughout the world…..Busan’s transformation towards a global hub city has already begun,” he added.
As Cambodia – one member of the 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) — has had good diplomatic relation and investment cooperation with South Korea while its sport sector has been grown and improved, the Kingdom expects to send its sport people to join the Bun Expo 2023.
Then, ASEAN for the time being contains of 10 nations — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam – and it is expected to another new member, Timor-Leste, next year.
Besides having bilateral relation with each ASEAN member, South Korea whose population is more than 51 million also has bilateral partnership in many sectors with ASEAN as a whole where it has over 665.17 million people are living with diversity of cultures.
That’s why, Busan Expo 2030 will bring more cooperation and partnership between Korea and ASEAN while peace, stability and development are promoted in the region and the whole world. Busan Expo 2030 is part of human life with harmony and friendly community.
Let’s bring the World Expo 2030 to Busan.
Chhay Sophal is senior advisor and columnist of Cambodia News Online. He is also a founder and advisor of the 2000-established Club of Cambodian Journalists.