By Yoo Yeon Gyeong
Video = Official YouTube account of Office of the President

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Nov. 29 said he led a government-wide campaign to land Busan the right to host the 2030 World Expo but came up short.

In his presentation titled "What to Say to the Public on the 2030 World Expo" made at the briefing room of the Office of the President in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District, he said, "I held talks with the leaders of 96 countries on 150 occasions and held direct phone calls with dozens of heads of state, but our predictions about our position felt through contacts with the public and private sectors were largely incorrect," adding, "Everything is on me."

On Nov. 28, Busan earned 29 of the combined 165 votes for the host city election at the general assembly of the International Bureau of Expositions in Paris. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, earned a majority 119 votes in the first round of voting to secure the event.

President Yoon hailed the nation's private and public sectors for working hard for a year on the campaign.

"Hosting the Busan Expo was not simply for Busan's development alone but also an attempt to rapidly develop our country through balanced development with Seoul and Busan as our two axes," he said. "Though we failed to get the hosting bid for the 2030 World Expo, we will proceed with a balanced development strategy of our national territory."

The president said "Expo of Sharing" and "Expo of Solidarity" were emphasized during the bidding process, adding, "We will thoroughly pursue and carry out responsible contributions to the international community without fail for our national dignity."

The presentation concluded with his congratulations to Riyadh for its successful bid. "We will sufficiently provide support to Saudi Arabia with the materials, experience and assets prepared for Busan's bid as well as our own confidence to ensure the successful hosting of the 2030 World Expo in Riyadh," he added.

dusrud21@korea.kr