The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo has significantly enhanced its interactive experiences for visitors of all ages in celebration of the Chuseok holiday.
New programs have been introduced both inside and outside the exhibition halls, featuring AI guides, drone piloting, a children's train, treasure hunts, clown performances, and wish paper boats. These additions aim to encourage family visitors to engage actively rather than just observe the exhibits.
On September 24, the organizing committee announced that in line with the Chuseok holiday, they will unveil new interactive content and family participation programs across four exhibition halls: the Theme Island, Marine Ecology Island, Future Island, and Cultural Island.
One of the highlights is the 'AI Dasami Guide' installed on the Theme Island. Utilizing the expo's mascot, Dasami, the guide explains the exhibits and responds to visitor inquiries with gestures. It also features multilingual voice interaction to assist foreign visitors.
The Future Island will host a 'Drone Pilot Experience.' Visitors can earn a pilot certificate by correctly answering at least seven out of ten quiz questions related to drones at a kiosk, after which they can participate in a game where they pilot a drone to score goals.
At the Marine Ecology Island, children can engage in activities such as decorating a representation of the Yeosu sea with marine creature magnets and creating letters or marine life using threads.
The Cultural Island has introduced a new 'Wish Paper Boat' area where visitors can write their wishes on colored paper and fold them into boats for display. This space is designed to be a photo opportunity for families and couples making paper boats together.
Outside the exhibition halls, experiences continue with the launch of the 'Dasami Train' on September 24, which allows children to explore the venue while parents capture memories through photos, serving both as transportation and an interactive experience.
Additionally, performances by clowns, mimes, and buskers, organized through the talent donation of local businesses, will take place three times a day. The schedule includes a welcome show at 10 a.m., juggling and mime acts at 1 p.m., and a busker performance featuring drums and percussion at 4 p.m.
An event called 'Treasure Hunt' also began on September 24, where participants can explore the Theme Island, Marine Ecology Island, Cultural Island, and Future Island to find designated exhibits, such as Jeju's Dolhareubang, Palauan wooden crafts, a whale bone boat model, and traditional Omani boats, and take certification photos. Completing all four exhibitions will earn participants a souvenir.
After sunset, activities will shift to the waterfront and media facade. The 'Wish Boat Launch with Dasami' will allow visitors to float their written wishes, while the Theme Island will showcase selected stories and messages of support and gratitude sent by visitors to their families and loved ones on a large media facade.
The main venue of the expo features exhibition halls and performance spaces, and the organizing committee continues to operate visitor-friendly and interactive programs since the opening. The expo is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Kim Jong-ki, the secretary-general of the organizing committee, stated, “In light of the Chuseok holiday, we have enhanced the content so that visitors can actively participate and enjoy the expo more fully. We hope families will explore the venue together, experiencing a variety of activities that involve seeing, touching, riding, and laughing.”
Meanwhile, the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, themed 'Connecting Islands, Seas, and the Future,' will run until November 4 at the main venue in the Jinnmo area of Dolsan, as well as at the Yeosu World Expo site and the islands of Gaedo and Geumo. The main venue will feature exhibitions, experiences, and performances related to island culture, ecology, and the future, while sub-venues will offer programs utilizing the natural beauty of the islands.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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