Pukyong National University

'Busan, the city of world expo and global ODA'

- President Jang Young-Soo on the <Busan Ilbo> dated June,19

A column written by Pukyong National University President Jang Young-Soo, titled 'Busan, the city of world expo and global ODA', was published on page 23 of the <Busan Ilbo> on June 19.

As a headline on the front page of the <Busan Ilbo> that day, the news that President Yoon Seok-Yeol would be a speaker at the 4th round of competitive presentations to decide on the host country of the expo held at the 172nd general assembly of the Bureau international des expositions (BIE) to host the world expo 2030 in Busan was published.

While all-round efforts to host the world expo 2030 continue from all walks of life, Pukyong National University, a local fixture as Busan's first university, is also helping to create public opinion to host the expo.

In this column, President Jang Young-Soo stressed, "About two-thirds of BIE member countries are developing countries. So I think it is most important to attract the expo to win their hearts by forming friendly relations with these countries."

Korea is forming friendly relations with developing countries such as pacific Island countries, and the reason for this is 'long-term ODA (Official Development Assistance) efforts in the maritime and fishery'.

President Jang explained, "Since the 2000s, Korea has been actively carrying out projects to build infrastructure for fisheries, educate fishermen, transfer fishery technology, and train experts through maritime ODA for various developing countries in the Pacific Islands, Asia, and Africa."

Developing countries desperately need education to receive the accumulated industrial development experience and technology of developed countries, and Korea has been actively involved in this.

According to President Jang, Busan is a city that has maintained deep ties with many developing countries through ODA and fosters talents in the global maritime and fisheries industry.

He said, "Pukyong National University is passing on its technology and expertise in fisheries science since the establishment of the overseas fisheries cooperation center in 2005 to carry out maritime and fisheries ODA, inviting public officials and experts in the maritime and fisheries from countries in Asia, Africa, Oceania, Central and South America, and the middle east as trainees every year in connection with the Korea international cooperation agency (KOICA)."

Along with this, there are 204 master's degree graduates from a total of 46 countries so far in Pukyong National University global fisheries graduate school's international fisheries science cooperation course (KOICA master's degree training course).

President Jang said, "Our experience of advanced economic development and growth is becoming a hopeful benchmark for countries around the world. Based on this, I hope that Busan will be able to host the world expo 2030 without fail and start the expo's theme, 'the era of change: together for a foresighted tomorrow'. <Pukyong Today>