President Yoon has been tirelessly campaigning to help South Korea beat super-rich Saudi Arabia and Group of Seven member Italy in the race to host the prestigious event, which occurs every five years. 

By comparison, Indonesia lost the right to host of the FIFA Under-20 World Cup just two months before the youth tournament kicked off, because Jokowi could not withstand the pressure from his Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which opposed the participation of Israel. Fortunately, Indonesia won a consolation after the world soccer body awarded Indonesia the right to host the U-17 World Cup.

In his official remark during the ASEAN leaders’ summit with three dialogue partners – China, Japan and South Korea – in Jakarta early this month, President Yoon chose to be straightforward in asking Jokowi and other ASEAN leaders to support South Korea’s bid to host the World Expo. South Korea has proposed Busan as event venue.

The final decision will be made in about 60 days, with Saudi Arabia reportedly the frontrunner.

As a Javanese who prefers to use more subtle ways of expressing their hidden feeling, it was not easy for President Jokowi to fulfill President Yoon’s request because as the host of the summit and this year’s chair of ASEAN, he must first consult his colleagues. President Yoon paid a courtesy call to President Jokowi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, during which the former conveyed his request for support.

As reported by Yonhap news agency, Yoon also asked for ASEAN's attention regarding Busan's bid to host the World Expo 2030, stressing the history of the city hosting South Korea-ASEAN summits in 2014 and 2019.

Busan has chosen the theme “Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future” for the expo, which is scheduled from May 1 to Oct. 31, 2030.

"I ask for your support for Korea's endeavor in that regard so that Busan can once again contribute to building a better future in the Indo-Pacific region and for the entire humanity," Yoon said.

As if the South Korean president told ASEAN leaders to never let your spirit die when you want to achieve a goal. He is aware that Saudi Arabia is largely tipped to win the race.

Last year, the Indonesian government informed South Korea that it would vote for Saudi Arabia, which is bidding for the first time. Previously, Indonesia voted for South Korean candidates in the race for the director general posts in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO), which they eventually lost.

“We will always fight to win any competition to lead major world organizations such as the United Nations, UNICEF, the World Trade Organization or the World Health Organization. Also, when there is a chance to win global games or other prestigious events,” a South Korean diplomat told me early this year.

Jokowi did not want to disappoint Yoon, as South Korea is the world’s 12^th largest economy, the fourth largest in Asia and one of Indonesia’s most important trading partners, especially in the development of Indonesia’s electric vehicle industry.

“The President gave a vague answer to his guest’s request. But I think the South Korean leader understood the President’s real intentions,” said a senior government official about the bilateral discussion between Jokowi and Yoon.

South Korea has an exceptional track record in hosting world-class events, such as the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 2018 Winter Olympics, as well as cohosting the 2002 Soccer World Cup. In terms of diplomacy, Seoul also succeeded in promoting its top diplomat Ban Ki-moon as the UN Secretary General for two consecutive terms from 2007 to 2016.

The upcoming World Expo will be held in Osaka, Japan from April 13 to Oct. 13, 2025.

In October, or one month before the election of the 2030 World Expo’s host, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will host the first summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and ASEAN in Riyadh. 

The summit will give President Jokowi a golden chance to invite Saudi investment in Indonesia. Jokowi can perhaps follow Yoon’s example in persuading the Crown Prince to realize his father’s promise to bring Saudi Arabian investors to Indonesia when visiting Jakarta a few years ago.

President Jokowi and Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. are among ASEAN leaders who have confirmed their attendance in Riyadh.

As this year’s rotary chairman of ASEAN, President Jokowi will cohost the summit along with Prince Salman. In their bilateral meeting, Jokowi hopes to get the kingdom to invest in the Nusantara Capital (IKN) project. Jokowi will also perform umrah (minor haj pilgrimage) in Mecca during his Saudi Arabian outing.

Saudi Arabia will reportedly allocate US$7.8 billion for the expo. The ASEAN-GCC summit is expected to result in more support for the kingdom’s ambitions.  

The 170 member states of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) will vote to elect the host of the 2020 World Expo on Nov. 28. The event provides the host country with the opportunity to show off its most sophisticated advancements in science and technology.

If the right to host the event goes to Saudi Arabia, the Expo will take place from Oct. 1, 2030, to March 31, 2031. Riyadh has chosen the theme “The Era of Change: Together for a Foresighted Tomorrow” for its campaign. 

President Jokowi surely does not want to return home empty handed from the Saudi Arabia. But he will only be successful if he can offer the Crown Prince something that he cannot refuse, starting with Indonesia’s commitment to vote for Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo.

In this regard, President Yoon is an inspiration.

 

The writer is senior editor at The Jakarta Post.