The unsuccessful bid by South Korea for the 2030 World Expo has raised concerns, not only about the bid's outcome but also regarding the uninspiring atmosphere that was evident even before the results were declared. Criticism has been mainly focused on the quality of the presentations, which relied on PowerPoint slides and videos.

A major point of contention has been the promotional video made for Busan, the proposed host city. The controversy stems from the substantial budget of 5.3 billion KRW (approximately 4.1 million USD) spent on this video, which many have criticized as a failure.

On November 30, KBS News highlighted the expenditures related to the Busan Expo video. This followed an investigation by the office of Jang Kyung Tae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. The investigation revealed that the costs for some of these presentations were exorbitantly high, running into tens of billions of KRW (millions of USD).

The lawmaker's office made a statement, indicating, "The 5.3 billion KRW budget covered various expenses, including the production of the video showcased at the 4th presentation in France in June, the hosting of a reception during that event, and the creation of the final presentation video unveiled on November 28."

In response to these revelations, a representative from the video production agency stated, "While it is accurate that we were responsible for the 4th presentation, the reception, and the final presentation video in June, we are unable to confirm the specific costs for each presentation or celebrity appearance fees." The representative further explained, "The contract details with our client, the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, are not readily accessible for external verification."

The controversial presentation video stirred up significant debate, primarily due to its use of the 2012 hit song "Gangnam Style" by Psy as its background music. Gangnam is a district in Seoul, located more than 300 kilometers from Busan. Critics also argue that the video placed an excessive emphasis on celebrities, rather than showcasing Busan's distinctive qualities. Furthermore, the disproportionate focus on the number one symbol within the video led to criticisms of the video's quality.

President Yoon Suk Yeol issued a public apology, taking full responsibility for the failure to secure the Expo bid, stating, "The blame for our failure to attract the Expo falls entirely on me."

Meanwhile, the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) announced on November 29 that Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, would host the 2030 World Expo, with Riyadh securing 119 votes compared to Busan's 29.