Hyundai Motor Group chairman Chung Mong-koo will receive the National Order of Merit Mugunghwa from the government for his contribution to the 2012 Expo in Yeosu, Hyundai Motor said Tuesday.

Mugunghwa is the first class of order of Civil Merit. Chung has worked as the honorary chief of the organizing committee to host the world class exhibition event since 2007. His contributions were noted after he visited 11 member states of the Bureau of International Expositions in 2007 to promote Yeosu to officials before the final vote on the host country of the 2012 Expo.

“I hope the hosting of the 2012 Yeosu Expo will help enhance the brand value of Korea and boost economic development,” Chung said after he was chosen to be decorated.

The 2012 Expo in Yeosu is a global fair to help lay the foundation for the eco-friendly development of oceans which the committee calls “blue economy.” It is expected to generate about 12.3 trillion won ($11 billion) worth of investment and create about 79,000 jobs in the city.

The expo, themed the “Living Ocean and Coast,” will be the second world expo to be held in Korea after the Daejeon Expo in 1993.

By Cynthia J. Kim (cynthiak@heraldcorp.com)