The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo reopened on October 7 after a one-day closure for facility maintenance. The International Exchange Island exhibit has been completely revamped to feature displays from 17 countries and local governments, along with new attractions such as a seahorse and clownfish aquarium, autumn flowers, and nighttime lighting as the expo enters its later stages.
The organizing committee announced that on the closure day, October 6, they upgraded the exhibition and experience facilities, as well as visitor amenities, before reopening.
This revamp focuses on enhancing attractions, improving exhibition explanations, and refining scheduling and navigation based on feedback from visitors and satisfaction surveys since the expo's opening.
The most significant change is at the International Exchange Island. The second exhibition, running until November 4, features participation from 17 countries and local governments, including Hawaii, Cuba, Zanzibar, Kochi, Palau, the Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Ghana, Socotra, Tonga, and the Solomon Islands.
While the first exhibition highlighted the natural and tourism resources of well-known islands, the second will address global challenges faced by islands, such as climate change, coral restoration, ecosystem preservation, and sustainable tourism.
New facilities at the International Exchange Island include a media center showcasing promotional videos of islands worldwide and a promotional booth for seafood export companies from Gwangju, South Jeolla Province. Additional interactive spaces like 'Life in Four Cuts' and claw machines, as well as 'Catch the World's Islands,' have also been added.
On the reopening day, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the Dominican Republic booth, featuring the traditional character 'Diablo Cojuelo,' which drew the attention of visitors.
Programs introducing island cultures from around the world will continue. 'Island Friends Day' will take place on October 10-11, starting with Ghana's Volta region, followed by Palau, Cuba, Tanzania, Kiribati, Kochi, and Hawaii. Beginning October 10, there will be six daily sessions where island coordinators will share stories and travel routes for three islands.
Family-friendly experiences have also been enhanced. The Marine Ecological Island now features an aquarium where visitors can observe seahorses and clownfish, alongside existing activities like magnet fishing and yarn games, allowing for direct engagement with marine ecology.
The Island Theme Zone has been upgraded with new waterway lighting to enhance the nighttime 'Wishing Boat' experience, and heart-shaped lights have been added. Autumn flowers, including chrysanthemums, have been planted throughout the expo grounds, and a sculpture previously located behind the International Exchange Island has been moved to serve as a photo zone in front of the Korean Island Restaurant.
Improvements for visitor convenience have also been made. Two additional guides have been assigned to each exhibition hall in the theme islands, marine ecological island, cultural island, and future island. Busking performances in the main event area have been expanded to 28 shows. Signage and floor navigation indicators have been increased, and key event schedules will be communicated through monitors on the open stage and the website.
During the closure, the walking path paving blocks and drinking fountains in the restaurant and market islands were replaced, and the landscape lighting in the grass plaza and indirect lighting at the island gate were upgraded. To prepare for the cooler autumn temperatures, the exhibition tent air conditioning units have been replaced with heating and cooling systems.
Following the reopening, performances and sales events are scheduled. The Yeosu Jazz Festival will take place on the 9th, and on the 10th at 6 p.m., broadcaster Park Kyung-rim and musical actress Ivy will participate in a talent donation performance titled 'The Big Show' on the open stage. From the 9th to the 11th, the Yeosu World Expo will host the 'World Gimbap & Salt Festival.'
On the 10th and 17th, a 'Gwangju Seafood Special Sale' will be held, featuring local seafood producers from Yeosu, Haenam, Yeonggwang, and Wando, offering products at discounts of 20-50% off market prices.
Kim Jong-ki, the secretary-general of the organizing committee, stated, "We thoroughly inspected the expo grounds during the one-day closure and enhanced the exhibition, experience, and visitor facilities. We aim to enrich the latter half of the expo with new attractions from 17 countries, including the aquarium, autumn flowers, and nighttime lighting, along with improved explanations and guidance."
Meanwhile, the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, themed 'Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future,' will continue until November 4 at the main event venue in Dolsan Jinmo District, the Yeosu World Expo site, and the surrounding areas of Gaedo and Geumo Island.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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