The World EXPO 2030 Busan Bid Committee (hereinafter “Committee”) held a ceremony to appoint South Korean soprano Jo Sumi as the 4th official honorary ambassador for World Expo 2030 Busan on December 27 at the LG Art Center in Seoul.
At the ceremony, Committee Secretary General Yoon Sang-jik and Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon presented soprano Jo Sumi with the appointment plaque.
The 4th official honorary ambassador following actor and filmmaker Lee Jung-jae, AI Rozy and boy band BTS, soprano Jo Sumi is also the first Asian prima donna to have starred in the world’s most famous opera theaters.
Soprano Jo Sumi’s ties with Busan Metropolitan City go back many years. She was presented with honorary Busan citizenship for her contribution to the city’s successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit meeting, and was appointed as honorary ambassador for Busan Opera House in 2021.
Her song “We Will Be One,” specially composed and sung with a children’s choir to promote Korea’s bid to host World Expo 2030 Busan, could be heard playing at the appointment ceremony, and the soundtrack was released as a digital single at 12 noon the same day.
Committee Secretary General Yoon Sang-jik remarked that “the world-renowned soprano Jo Sumi being appointed as honorary ambassador will draw attention and support not only from Korea but around the world, especially from artists.”
The Committee is planning to take full measure in bid promotion activities led by the honorary ambassador to raise international awareness until the final winner is selected at the end of 2023 after Bureau International des Expositions (BIE)’ local inspection and two rounds of presentations.
Source: Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy