As the first holiday of October approaches, the 2026 Yeo-su World Island Expo will showcase a series of performances spanning genres from trot to musicals and jazz, along with island experience programs.
The organizing committee announced on October 1 that events will kick off with the 'KBC Island Concert' on October 2, followed by the 'Prime Concert' and musical actress Choi Jung-won's 'DIVA ON STAGE' at the main stage of the expo.
The first performance, the 'KBC Island Concert,' will take place on October 2 at 6:30 p.m. This celebration show aims to support Yeo-su's bid to host the 2033 UN Climate Change Conference (COP33) and will feature artists Lee Chan-won, Park Seo-jin, Ahn Seong-hoon, and Jeong Seo-joo performing for 120 minutes.
The concert will be recorded for broadcast on KBC-TV at 10 a.m. on October 10.
On October 4 at 6:30 p.m., the 'Prime Concert,' a large-scale trot event, will be held.
Singer Jang Min-ho will host the concert, featuring 14 acts including Seong-ri, Son Tae-jin, Park Ji-hyun, Kim Hee-jae, Park Hyun-ho, Song Min-jun, Kim Tae-yeon, Ryu Won-jeong, Park Ji-hoo, Bin Ye-seo, Jang Ha-on, Jeong Hye-rin, and Hong Ji-yoon. The performance is expected to last three hours, concluding at 9:30 p.m.
On the final day of the holiday, October 5, the atmosphere will shift as musical actress Choi Jung-won presents 'DIVA ON STAGE' for one hour.
This concert, themed 'The Brightest Moment, The Hottest Stage,' will also feature cultural artists connected to the expo's director, Park Myung-seong, who will contribute their talents.
In addition to the performances, the expo's exhibition halls, including the theme island, marine ecology island, future island, and cultural island, will offer family-friendly experiential content and nighttime programs.
All performances are accessible to expo attendees without prior reservation. After 5 p.m., guests can enter with a nighttime ticket, and those who entered during the day can re-enter until 8:30 p.m. with a stamped ticket.
During the holiday period, entry benefits will be expanded. Visitors aged 65 and older, as well as residents of Busan and Jeju, can enter for free. Children under 12 accompanied by an adult can also enter for free, along with residents of inhabited islands nationwide and guests celebrating their birthday on the day of their visit.
After the holiday, performances will continue. On October 9, the 'Yeo-su Jazz Festival' will feature the Woongsan Band, Lee Jeong-sik, and the Malo Band at the main stage. Concurrently, from October 9 to 11, the World Gimbap & Salt Festival will take place at the Yeo-su Expo site.
Programs will also be available for visitors to explore actual islands. On Gaedo, activities will include island camping, art exhibitions, wellness and healing programs, marine sports, and food demonstrations. Geumo Island will host a stamp tour along the Bireong-gil trail, historical exhibitions, and walking tour challenges.
From October 2 to 5, the 7th International Youth Island Work Camp will be held on Gaedo and Geumo Island, and on October 9 and 10, the 'Romantic Island Cinema' will also be available on Gaedo.
Exhibition content will also change. Starting October 7, participating regions in the International Exchange Island will include Hawaii, Kochi, and Palau, introducing visitors to new island cultures and stories.
Kim Jong-ki, secretary general of the organizing committee, stated, "The island expo is a place to recognize the value of islands and think about their future together. I hope visitors can meet the islands of the world during the day and enjoy performances by the beautiful Yeo-su night sea, creating wonderful memories."
Meanwhile, the 2026 Yeo-su World Island Expo, themed 'Connecting Islands, Seas, and the Future,' will continue until November 4 at the main venue in Dolsan Jinmo District, as well as at the Yeo-su Expo site and on Gaedo and Geumo Island. The expo features exhibitions, experiences, and performances showcasing the nature, culture, and life of islands worldwide, along with programs connecting to actual islands.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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