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Busan Metropolitan City Publishes the “White Paper on Activities to Attract the 2030 Busan World Expo,” Documenting a Decade-Long Journey

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Busan Metropolitan City announced today (28th) that it has jointly published the “White Paper on Activities to Attract the 2030 Busan World Expo” (hereinafter the “white paper”) with the Government.

The white paper presents the entire process of bid activities carried out jointly by the Government, the City, and the private sector over a period of 10 years, from 2014 to 2023, including an analysis of achievements and factors contributing to setbacks.

The City began work on the white paper in March of last year (2024) through a contracted professional agency. Beginning in September of the same year, relevant ministries—including the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs—participated in a joint drafting process focused on each institution’s roles and activities.

In particular, a review and advisory panel composed of bid experts, civic organizations, and related public officials took part in the production process to ensure objectivity and professionalism. The team enhanced the completeness of the publication through cross-verification at every stage—from data collection to drafting and review.

The publication schedule, originally set for the end of last year (2024), was delayed due to extensive content refinement as well as various national-level circumstances, including martial law, an early presidential election, and the inauguration of a new administration.

Although the City initially planned to publish the white paper by the end of last year (2024), the schedule was postponed as the supplementation process to more thoroughly document each institution’s activities and analytical materials took longer than expected.

The white paper consists of a total of 309 pages and covers major topics such as planning and progress of the bid, organizational structure, implementation of official procedures with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), bid negotiations and promotional activities, and overall evaluation and implications.

The white paper sequentially documents key developments, including:
– the City’s initiation of bid preparations in 2014 through the establishment of the basic plan, leading up to the designation of the project as a national initiative;
– the submission of the bid application and bid plan;
– implementation of BIE’s official procedures, including competitive presentations (PT) and on-site inspections;
– bid negotiations and promotional activities carried out jointly by the Government and the private sector; and
– the entire process leading up to the vote at the BIE General Assembly.

It also includes analysis of achievements and setbacks identified throughout the bid effort, as well as implications for the future.

The City plans to distribute 500 hard copies of the white paper starting in December to key public and related institutions, including the Government, the National Assembly, the Busan Metropolitan Council, and local governments and libraries nationwide. The electronic (PDF) version will be available on the City’s website (www.busan.go.kr) and the National Archives of Korea website (www.archives.go.kr).

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “As this is an official record jointly produced by the Government and our City, ensuring accuracy and credibility was of utmost importance. I ask for citizens’ understanding regarding the delay in publication due to significant national circumstances.”

He added, “I hope this white paper will serve not merely as a record but as a valuable asset for shaping the future of the Republic of Korea and Busan, and that it will be widely utilized as a guideline for similar efforts in the future.”

Regarding recent discussions from some quarters about a potential renewed bid for the 2040 World Expo prior to the publication of the white paper, he said, “We regret that matters still at the planning and discussion stage were unexpectedly communicated to the public.”

He continued, “Our City’s position on the prospect of pursuing another World Expo bid is that the policy decision-making process must come first, rather than prematurely determining whether to reattempt. We plan to make a decision on whether to move forward with a new bid only after fully gathering citizens’ opinions through official procedures such as public hearings and forums.”