Park Heong: Last News

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief “I hope we can communicate and reconcile again,” said Busan Mayor Park Heong-joon on the opening night of the South Korean city’s film festival. With so much of the dialogue in opening drama “Because I Hate Korea” discussing Korean societal rigidities, group loyalties, long working hours and poor pay (which cause the protagonist to emigrate to laid-back New Zealand), it is easy to forget that many of these characteristics are what may have saved this year’s Busan International FIlm Festival from going off the rails.

BTS will hold a free live performance in Busan later this year to support the South Korean city’s bid to host the forthcoming 2030 World Expo.The septet will be performing at the Busan Ilgwang Special stage for their ‘Yet to Come in Busan’ special concert on October 15, 6PM KST. A “live play” event, where fans can view the show in real-time through the big screen, will be hosted at the Busan Port International Passenger Terminal Outdoor Parking Lot at the same time.2030 부산세계박람회 유치 기원 콘서트 BTS <Yet To Come> in BUSAN 공연 개최#YetToComeInBUSAN #BTS #방탄소년단 pic.twitter.com/X6tXgVBqVw— BIGHIT MUSIC (@BIGHIT_MUSIC) August 24, 2022Tickets for both of these in-person events will be free of charge.

BTS be granted an alternative to – but not an exemption from – the country’s military service mandate.Mayor Park Heong-joon recently made a formal proposal requesting the presidential office  consider granting the K-pop group an alternative form of mandatory military service that is currently available to athletes and artists who have “helped elevate national prestige or cultural advancement”, said officials on August 18, per Yonhap News Agency.The mayor cited BTS’ roles as ambassadors for Busan’s bid to host the World City Expo in 2030 as a reason for his proposal. According to Yonhap News Agency, Park expects an “aggressive promotional drive” by BTS would grant the city a competitive edge amid an “increasingly fierce” competition to host the 2030 Expo.“I do not mean to give BTS the privilege of exemption from military service.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau ChiefK-pop superstars BTS have committed to playing a live concert in support of Busan as host city of the 2030 World Expo. The group has also been appointed as ambassadors for the bid.Bang Si-Hyuk, chairman of BTS’ management agency HYBE, and the company’s CEO Park Jiwon on Friday (local time) signed an agreement with Busan Metropolitan City mayor Park Heong-joon.The deal commits the band to the concert and a range of related tasks.