Yoon visits Busan following expo loss

Dec 07, 2023, 09:06 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeon speaks during a meeting to encourage residents at the BPEX exhibition in Busan on Dec. 6, 2023./ Source: Presidential Office Joint Press Corps

AsiaToday reporter Park Ji-eun

President Yoon Suk-yeol said Busan should be developed into the central hub of the country’s southern region in order to ahieve rapid national growth.

Yoon made the remarks during a meeting with some 100 people in Busan, including citizen leaders, lawmakers, and business and government officials who helped the World Expo campaign, held at Busan Port International Exhibition and Convention Center (BPEX) on Wednesday.

“Since the presidential campaign, I have stressed the need to develop the nation as a whole with Seoul and Busan as the two axes,” he said. “We must start building the systems and infrastructure needed for Busan to truly develop into a logistical, financial, digital and advanced industry hub.”

The president then promised to push for a special law that will help Busan’s transformation into a global hub city and open a new airport on Busan’s Gadeok Island. He also vowed to carry out a ‘tri-port logistics platform’ and relocate the state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) to the port city.

“Such infrastructure construction is not solely for Busan, but for the development of the Gyeongsang and Jeolla provinces, as well as the southern region, with Busan as the axis, and for our economy to make a leap through the balanced development of the entire country,” he said.

Land, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Won Hee-ryong said the government will open the new airport on time and expand air routes in the southern part of the country. Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Cho Seung-hwan pledged to continue building a global logistics cluster in the city. Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon also presented a set of measures to help turn Busan into a global hub.

Business tycoons also joined the meeting. “Dreams will definitely come true with the president’s bold visions and Busan citizens’ wishes to transform Busan into a global hub city,” Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong said. “Busan has excellent geographical conditions. SK will also support Busan’s development,” SK Group Executive Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won said.

Meanwhile, Yoon later stopped at Gukje Market - a well-known traditional market in the city – where he talked with citizens and encouraged merchants.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #Busan #world expo