Busan citizens shed tears after Busan’s bid for the 2030 World Expo was rejected during a rally to support the city’s bid at the Busan Civic Center in Dong-gu, Busan, on Nov. 29. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, BUSAN & PARIS, Nov. 29 (Korea Bizwire) –Following Busan’s unsuccessful bid for the 2030 World Expo, Busan National University Professor Kim Yi-tae, an advisor to the Busan Expo Hosting Committee, has claimed that vote buying occurred.
Kim made this revelation during a press conference held on the sidelines of the International Expositions Bureau (BIE) General Assembly in Paris on the same day in response to a question about the reason for Busan’s loss by such a significant margin.
Saudi Riyadh secured the Expo hosting rights by obtaining 119 votes from BIE member countries, surpassing Busan (29 votes) and Rome (17 votes).
Kim attributed Busan’s defeat to Saudi Arabia’s strategic efforts to enhance its national image through a strengthened monarchy and economic reforms outlined in the Saudi Vision 2030 roadmap. He emphasized that Riyadh aimed to divert the attention of Saudi citizens towards major events like the Expo bid and the Winter Olympics, fostering loyalty and support.
Addressing the controversial vote-buying claim, Kim explained that Saudi Arabia invested over 10 trillion won for the Expo bid as part of its larger plan to spend 43 trillion won by 2030, mainly on construction in the capital city of Riyadh. He noted that substantial financial contributions were made to underdeveloped nations, claiming that this influenced the outcome of the vote.
Kim also discussed external factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions between the U.S. and China, stating that these challenges, along with the global economic downturn, contributed to a shift in international dynamics.
He argued that the vulnerability of the international landscape led to a preference for underdeveloped nations supporting Saudi Arabia over more qualified bids from other countries.
South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo shakes hands with a Saudi official after the final presentation for South Korea’s bid to host the 2030 World Expo at the 173rd general assembly of the Bureau International des Expositions held at the Palais des Congres in Paris before its members vote for the host city on Nov. 28, 2023. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Kim also mentioned the impact of the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo on the Busan bid, suggesting that the customary consideration of continental distribution in voting influenced the outcome.
The professor’s remarks have prompted speculation about externalizing blame for the Expo bid failure. Some suggest that underdeveloped nations were swayed by Saudi economic power, while others question whether the Saudi strategy of diverting the attention of its citizens played a role.
Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok expressed concerns on Facebook, stating, “Within the broader context, there seems to have been a shift in the global balance, with Expo-related alienation from third-world countries based on Saudi Arabia’s economic support. However, stakeholders should refrain from overly emphasizing such aspects externally.”
In response to the bid failure, the government announced plans to leverage the diplomatic networks established during the bid process for future endeavors. The city of Busan affirmed its commitment to overcoming the challenges it is facing, stating, “Busan’s journey persists. We will, in collaboration with our citizens, reconsider an Expo bid for 2035.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
