During the Chuseok holiday, visitors, including families and travelers returning home, have been flocking to the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo. Attendees have expressed positive reactions after experiencing newly enhanced interactive content, stating, "There was more to see than I expected," and "There are various activities to enjoy with family."
The organizing committee for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo reported on the 25th that visitors are utilizing newly added experiential content, including AI guides, drone piloting, and traditional thread games.
Lee Han-bin, who visited the expo while returning home for the holiday, noted that his expectations based on prior reviews did not match the actual experience. He said, "I was a bit worried after reading some negative reviews before my visit, but I found there was much more to see than I expected. The events happening throughout the venue were fun, and I appreciated being able to take breaks under the parasols to explore at a leisurely pace."
An Bo-hyun, a local resident, participated in the 'Wishing Paper Boat' activity with her child. She remarked, "The quality of the expo exceeded my expectations, and I want to thank the volunteers who maintain the event environment."
The interactive content has particularly attracted family visitors. At the Future Island, a program allows attendees to solve drone-related quizzes and pilot actual drones. Ryu Dong-joo, a student from Yeosu, shared, "I felt a great sense of achievement piloting the drone, and I think my friends would enjoy it too."
At Marine Ecology Island, families can create letters or marine creature shapes using threads, while the Theme Island features the 'AI Dasami Guide,' which answers visitors' questions to enhance their understanding of the exhibits.
Do Gap-joo, who returned to his hometown of Yeosu for Chuseok, said after participating in the thread game with his family, "There were so many activities we could do together that I lost track of time."
Seo Yu-jin, who came from Suncheon, described the AI Dasami Guide as "something I almost overlooked, but it was fascinating and fun to see in person," adding that it helped her understand the content on the Theme Island better.
The scenic views of the sea and international cultural performances also provided unique attractions for visitors. Kwon Oh-sang, who visited with his children from Seoul, said, "The sea stretches out beyond the expo, and we could learn about islands around the world at various spots along the beach, making for a delightful time with my kids."
Lee Hye-in, who attended the expo with her mother, highlighted the performance from East Timor as a memorable experience, explaining that it allowed her to encounter a different island culture beyond the exhibits and activities.
As night falls, experiences continue in the Island Theme Zone's waterways. Participants in the 'Wishing Boat with Dasami' activity release boats with their wishes written on them into the water. Student Kim Seo-hyun shared, "I wrote my wishes to become wealthy and a scientist on my wishing boat and released it. There are so many diverse activities here that I had a great time."
Staff members at the venue have also noticed a change in visitor reactions compared to the early days of the expo. Cha Soon-ja, a volunteer who has been active at Treasure Island since the opening, said, "Many visitors have told me that things have improved significantly since the beginning, and they have encouraged us for our hard work." Kim Yoo-wan, a staff member from Daegu, also mentioned that they have received feedback from visitors about the enhancements to the content.
The organizing committee is actively working to improve the expo based on visitor feedback, increasing the number of performances and adding experiential elements to each exhibition hall. They previously announced on the 10th that they would continue to strengthen performance and participation programs based on actual visitor opinions.
Kim Jong-ki, the committee's secretary-general, stated, "The honest feedback from each visitor is the greatest force that drives the expo to improve. We will continue to listen to visitors' voices during the remaining period and strive to make this an expo where families want to stay longer."
Meanwhile, the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, themed 'Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future,' opened on the 5th and will run for 61 days until November 4. The main venue is located in the Jimmuji area of Dolsan, Yeosu, with programs also taking place on Geodo and Geumo Island, as well as at the Yeosu World Expo site. The main venue operates from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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