The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo has surpassed 1 million visitors just 36 days after its opening. During the Hangeul Day holiday on October 9-10, over 250,000 people visited the main and sub venues, continuing the upward trend in attendance.
According to the organizing committee on October 11, the total number of visitors exceeded 1 million on the afternoon of October 10, reaching 1,064,079 by that date.
This milestone was achieved 36 days after the expo opened on September 5. The influx of family visitors during the Chuseok and Gaecheonjeol holidays, followed by the Hangeul Day holiday, contributed to the increase in attendance.
During the holiday period, the main venue hosted performances and food events that ran day and night.
On October 9, the Yeosu Jazz Festival took place against the backdrop of the autumn sea, while on October 10, broadcaster Park Kyung-rim and musical actress Ivy participated in 'The Big Show' as part of a charity event.
Musical actress Kim Kyung-sun and crossover tenor Ryu Hana also made special appearances, showcasing a concert and talk session. After the performances, fireworks lit up the night sky over the Yeosu coastline, providing a spectacular end to the day alongside the media facade on the theme island.
Lee Kyung-jin, 45, who visited the expo with family, said, "Listening to Ivy's songs by the sea was wonderful, and my kids enjoyed Park Kyung-rim's hosting. The fireworks after the show made for a perfect ending to the day."
During the day, visitors were treated to food events featuring local seafood.
At the special seafood discount event held by the National Federation of Fisheries Cooperatives on October 10, items such as mackerel, eel, abalone, and seaweed were sold at prices 20-50% lower than market rates. The event also provided 600 servings of abalone egg gimbap to visitors in two rounds at the grassy square in front of the theme island. The seafood discount event will continue on October 17.
At the sub venue, the Yeosu Expo Convention Center, the '2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju World Gimbap & Salt Festival' has been attracting visitors since October 9, complementing the main venue's offerings during the holiday.
Notably, a special event was held on October 10 to celebrate the milestone of 1 million visitors.
The 1 millionth visitor was a 56-year-old couple from Suncheon who happened to visit Yeosu on their day off. They expressed, "This day will be a memorable one for us." The organizing committee also presented 'Acha-sang' awards to visitors who entered around the time of the 1 millionth visitor.
The organizing committee has been continuously enhancing exhibition and experience content since the opening, while promoting free admission, community talent contributions, and citizen participation programs.
Kim Jong-ki, the committee's secretary-general, stated, "Both the main and sub venues were filled with visitors during the first holiday since reopening, and we welcomed our 1 millionth visitor. We aim to allow more people to experience the value of the islands through newly renovated exhibition halls and weekly performances until the closing date."
Meanwhile, the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, themed 'Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future,' will continue until November 4 at the main venue in the Dolsan Jinmo area, as well as at the Yeosu World Expo site and the islands of Gaedo and Geumo. On the last day of the holiday, October 11, performances for 'Island Friends Day' from Ghana's Volta region and the final programs of the '2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju World Gimbap & Salt Festival' will take place.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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