Min Hyung-bae, the mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, officially requested President Lee Jae-myung to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo. With just 25 days until the event, he urged government departments and affiliated organizations to actively engage in ensuring the expo's success.
Mayor Min attended the 35th State Council meeting at the Government Sejong Center on August 11, where he outlined the preparations for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo and emphasized the need for government support.
"The Yeosu World Island Expo is the first international event since the establishment of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City and the first expo in the world focused on 'islands,'" he said. "It will be an opportunity to share the ecological, historical, and cultural values of islands and their growth potential with the world, presenting a blueprint for sustainable island development."
He specifically requested President Lee's presence at the opening ceremony, stating, "This expo will showcase the future of Korea's islands and marine sector to the world. If the President attends, it will clearly demonstrate our national commitment to becoming a maritime powerhouse."
He added, "It will also serve as a great encouragement to the citizens of Yeosu, who are facing difficulties due to the downturn in the petrochemical industry."
Before Mayor Min's remarks, President Lee and the State Council members watched a promotional video for the Yeosu World Island Expo.
Mayor Min also called for participation from government departments and affiliated organizations. He noted, "With government support, the facilities and exhibition preparations at the venue have been completed, and transportation and safety measures for visitors have been established. We will reassess the safety of facilities and overall event operations before the opening."
He urged, "I hope each department and affiliated organization will take an interest and come to Yeosu to participate."
The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo will take place from September 5 to November 4 in Yeosu. As the opening approaches, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City is finalizing preparations for the venue and exhibitions, including enhancing KTX services and finalizing safety management measures.
During the State Council meeting, Mayor Min also proposed expanding training for professionals in artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the public sector's capabilities. He suggested that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety expand its 'AI and Data Utilization Professional Training Program' to enable civil servants with administrative experience to develop and apply AI-based administrative systems in the field.
Mayor Min emphasized, "While hiring private developers is necessary, it is crucial to educate and utilize employees who understand the actual administrative processes and content."
He highlighted the need for nurturing talent that combines administrative experience with AI technology by sharing examples of 7th-grade civil servants who developed systems like 'AI Yeobimon' and 'Contract Support System through Negotiation' after completing the training program.
As the Yeosu World Island Expo will be the first international event since its establishment, Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City plans to continue final checks on transportation, safety, facilities, and overall event operations in the remaining time.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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