Yoon to fly to Paris for Busan's World Expo bid

President Yoon Suk Yeol will visit France and Vietnam from June 19 to June 24 to participate in the General Assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions in Paris to rally international support for the 2030 Busan World Expo bid, and to hold a bilateral summit with Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong.

The BIE General Assembly is scheduled to take place in Paris on June 20-21, with the fourth presentation taking place on the first day. This presentation will be livestreamed worldwide via the BIE's official YouTube channel. The order of the presentations will be as follows: Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Busan and Rome.

On June 20, President Yoon will attend the competition presentation and he will also hold a bilateral summit with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace on the same day, according to Kim Tae-hyo, the first deputy director of Korea's National Security Office.

On the second day of the General Assembly, Yoon will attend the official reception for the 2030 World Expo, where he will actively engage in promotional activities aimed at delegations and the diplomatic corps from various countries.

After concluding his visit to France, President Yoon will embark on a state visit to Vietnam between June 22-24. On June 23, a Korea-Vietnam summit will take place, during which President Yoon and President Vo Van Thuong will discuss ways to expand and develop bilateral relations, which have been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

“The government, the private sector, the central and local governments have been making all-round efforts as a one team to host the 2030 Busan World Expo,” he said while presiding over a Cabinet meeting.

"The presentation at the General Assembly, attended by all 171 member countries, will provide an opportunity to showcase the distinctive vision of the Busan Expo," he said, urging his Cabinet members to actively pursue the hosting of the 2030 Busan Expo whenever opportunities arise.

He also instructed them to address pending matters with greater diligence, ensuring smooth governance in his absence during his visit to Paris.

Leaders of the nation’s top conglomerates will also support the presentation by accompanying Yoon. Yoon’s overseas trip is anticipated to be accompanied by Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, Hyundai Motor Group chief Chung Euisun and LG Group leader Koo Kwang-mo.

The host country for the World Expo will be determined through a vote by BIE members immediately after the final competition presentations, scheduled to take place at the end of November. The presentations will serve as the concluding promotional activity for the candidate countries.