Incheon Metropolitan City goes all out to win the bid to host the 2028 G20 Summit, rallying diplomatic and community support

【Financial News, Incheon = Han Gap-su, reporter】 Incheon Metropolitan City is stepping up efforts to persuade diplomatic envoys and rally the local community in its bid to host the 2028 Group of 20 (G20) Summit. After forming a task force (TF) to support the bid, the city has secured the backing of county and district heads and is also holding a signature drive involving citizens and overseas Koreans.
According to Incheon Metropolitan City on the 12th, the city explained to ambassadors from 16 countries stationed in Korea why Incheon should host the G20 and its capacity to do so at a reception for an international robotics competition held in Songdo on the 7th. On the 12th, county and district heads in the Incheon area pledged their support and cooperation for the bid.
The city is touting international conference infrastructure, including Incheon International Airport, Incheon Port and Songdo Convensia, as well as its experience hosting international events such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) World Forum, as strengths in its bid. It is also pursuing plans to co-host the summit with cities along the west coast.
The city plans to flesh out its bid strategy in cooperation with central government ministries and related organizations, with the TF at the center, and to prepare for on-site inspections and promote the bid at home and abroad. It also intends to develop ways to link hosting the summit to attracting tourists and investment and revitalizing the local economy.
However, because selecting a host city requires diplomatic support at the national level and comprehensive preparations, including security and protocol, demonstrating the national benefits of holding the summit in Incheon is seen as a challenge.
Nam Young-hee, Incheon Metropolitan City's vice mayor for balanced development, said, “We will work with relevant agencies and, with citizen participation as our foundation, strengthen Incheon's competitiveness in the bid.”
[email protected] Han Gap-su Reporter