[Report] 'Was Chungju Man's Concern Justified?' Expo Expects 3 Million Visitors, but Reality Allows Transport of Only 1,200 per Day [Yeosu, Redefining Islands] ①

On-Site Report: 80 Days Before the Yeosu World Islands Expo
Daily Target of 49,000 Visitors, But Gaedo and Geumodo Transport Capacity Remains at 1,200
Mayor-Elect Seo Younghak Points Out Need for Thorough Safety Verification
Utilizing Cruis

On the wide site facing the sea, roads, drainage channels, and parking lot routes have appeared first. When visiting the main venue for the Yeosu World Islands Expo in the Jinmo District of Dolsan, Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on June 9, it still resembled more of a construction site than an expo venue. In the center of the site, the outline of the pyramid-shaped theme pavilion, "Theme Island," which will be wrapped in a full LED media facade to showcase the past, present, and future of islands, was clearly visible. This facility, which will remain after the expo, was still under construction with its black framework exposed. Surrounding earth-toned plots were gradually taking shape as exhibition halls and the open-air stage. Behind the open-air stage facing the sea, heavy machinery was moving back and forth, reinforcing the impression that Jinmo District was still much closer to a construction site than a finished event venue.

A view of the main exhibition hall under construction for the 2026 Yeosu Island Expo. Photo by Heeyoon Kim

The organizing committee has stated that the main venue is currently 73% complete. The plan is to finish the main facilities by the end of July, conduct trial operations and safety inspections throughout August, and open on September 5. Jo Younggeun, Head of Planning at the Yeosu World Islands Expo Organizing Committee, said, "There have been many concerns raised by the media, but there are absolutely no problems with the infrastructure," adding, "All facilities will be completed by the end of July, and we will use the entire month of August for trial operations and safety checks."

Most of the major exhibition halls, except for the theme pavilion, will be built as temporary facilities using TFS tents (large temporary exhibition halls with steel or aluminum frames and special membrane coverings). Spaces for visitors such as the Marine Ecological Island, Future Island, Culture Island, and International Exchange Island will be erected for the duration of the expo and dismantled afterward. The committee has proposed strengthening the tents to withstand wind speeds of up to 40 meters per second and has announced drainage measures as well. They have also explained that the venue is about 5 meters above sea level, allowing for natural drainage.

However, the opening will take place in early September. The southern coast is still susceptible to strong winds and typhoons during this period. Mayor-elect Seo Younghak of Yeosu, during his candidacy, pointed out the need to reinforce TFS tents against wind, saying, "Temporary structures are highly affected by wind, so anchoring, fire safety, and drainage systems must be thoroughly verified." He emphasized that ensuring structures can withstand standard wind speeds is a different matter from ensuring the safe movement of visitors.

Kim Joungki, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo, is explaining the development status at the main venue in Jinmo District, Dolsan, Yeosu, Jeonnam on the 9th. In the background, the pyramid-shaped main theme hall 'Theme Island,' the landmark of the expo, is under construction. Photo by Kim Heeyoon

Targeting an Average of 49,000 Visitors per Day... Current Transport Capacity for Gaedo and Geumo Island Is Only 2.4%

The expo's biggest test lies outside the main venue. The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo, themed "Connecting Islands, Oceans, and the Future," will be held for 61 days from September 5 to November 4. The organizing committee has set a target of three million visitors. This means an average of about 49,000 people must visit each day during the 61-day event. The main venue is the Jinmo District in Dolsan, while the sub-venues are Gaedo, Geumo Island, and the area around the Yeosu World Expo site.

Jongki Kim, Secretary General of the Organizing Committee, explained, "Yeosu's greatest strength is that the real islands, not just the exhibition halls, are the stage," adding, "We aim to create a stay-type tourism model where visitors remain on the islands and spend locally, through half-price ferry fares, one-night-three-meal packages and healing meals, yacht tours based on the islands, and more."

However, the actual transportation structure on site is much narrower than this vision. According to the committee, Gaedo currently operates 14 ferry departures and Geumo Island 17, allowing for a total daily transportation capacity of about 1,200 people. If the expo aims for three million visitors over 61 days, the daily average would be about 49,000.

Even ferry services to Geumo Island are subject to schedule and weather, making variables at the site very clear. The Hallim Ferry 9, which the reporter boarded for the Singi Port–Yeocheon Port section, is a 677-ton car ferry with a capacity of 650 passengers that departs Singi Port nine times daily during the summer. The posted schedule noted, "Reservation, advance purchase, and round-trip ticketing are not available," and "Subject to change depending on on-site conditions and weather."

The committee's solution is to increase the number of ferry trips if demand rises. However, given the nature of island transportation, which depends on on-site ticketing and weather conditions, simply adding more departures is insufficient to handle large visitor flows. A simple comparison shows that the combined transportation capacity of Gaedo and Geumo Island (1,200 people per day) is only 2.4% of the daily target of 49,000 visitors. In an expo themed around islands, the actual island experience may be limited to only a small portion of total visitors, presenting an ongoing operational challenge.

The committee has also acknowledged this limitation. When asked whether selling integrated tickets covering ferry costs to the sub-venues would make island visits easier, Jo, the Head of Planning, replied, "Space on the islands is limited," and explained, "While the main expo venue can accommodate large crowds, the islands cannot support this many visitors, so we have given people a choice."

The Secretary General emphasizes a stay-type tourism model where visitors spend locally by staying on the islands, while the Head of Planning stresses that, due to capacity limitations, island visits must remain optional. The economic benefits of the three-million-visitor expo hinge on island stays, but in reality, access to the islands is constrained by the number of ferry trips and pier capacity.

Location Map of Major Venues for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo. Centered on the Dolsan Jinmo District main venue, it shows the Yeosu World Expo site, Gaedo, and Geumo-do sub-venues along with the connected transportation axes. Yeosu World Island Expo

Utilizing Yachts and Cruise Ships for Maritime Routes Remains a Task Requiring Inter-Agency Coordination

Alternative transportation options using yacht tours or cruise ships to access the islands by sea also require additional procedures. The committee has proposed a maximum daily capacity of 3,392 people for yacht tours. Maritime connections between the Expo venue, Gukdong Port, and Jinmo District have been highlighted as a distinguishing feature of the expo. However, Jo, the Head of Planning, explained, "This is something we have never tried before," and noted, "Cruise ships and regular passenger ferries are entirely different categories of business, making legal issues inevitable."

Tourist cruise ships and regular passenger ferries have different licensing systems and operating methods, so turning them into regular transportation routes for visitors requires close coordination between relevant agencies. With about 80 days left until the opening, the approval of operations, docking locations, insurance, and cancellation standards in case of bad weather all need to be finalized for these maritime routes to function as part of the actual transportation system.

Land transportation measures have been presented in relatively concrete terms. The committee has secured 20 temporary parking lots with approximately 9,600 spaces and is preparing to deploy 60 shuttle buses on weekdays and more than 100 on weekends. By contrast, if the ferries stop operating, island routes are cut off. As a result, the establishment of maritime operation standards, response plans for cancellations, and alternative transport guidance remain key variables in the expo's operation.

The project budget and post-expo utilization issues are also tied to the capacity of sea routes. Jo, the Head of Planning, stated that the direct project budget is "about 70 billion won," while South Jeolla Province has announced a combined total of 161.1 billion won, including surrounding infrastructure and long-term tourism development costs. Only by clearly distinguishing between the budget for the expo venue and that for surrounding developments can the long-term fiscal burden be properly assessed.

After the event, permanent assets such as the theme pavilion, open-air stage, and urban forest garden will remain in the Jinmo District, which is the land-based main venue. However, the issues of direct income for residents of Gaedo and Geumo Island, operating rights for experiential programs, and the structuring of permanent tourism products after the expo all require further explanation.

Hwataedaegyo Bridge viewed from the passenger ferry to Geumodo Island. The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo will operate Dolsan Jinmo District as the main venue, and Geumodo, Gaedo, and the Yeosu World Expo site as sub-venues. Photo by Heeyoon Kim

The Core Program, "Island Experience," Still Depends on Maritime Access

The Jinmo District main venue is no longer an empty lot. The pyramid-shaped theme pavilion, the face of the expo, is taking shape, and the tent-style exhibition halls are also being built on schedule for completion by the end of July. The fast pace of preparations, which could help ease concerns about readiness, was evident on site.

However, the essence of the expo, the "island experience," still hinges on narrow sea routes and operational procedures. The stay-type tourism and local income opportunities promised by the committee depend on increasing the daily transport capacity of Gaedo and Geumo Island (currently 1,200 people), coordinating with relevant agencies for maritime routes using cruise ships and yachts, and establishing clear operational standards for bad weather interruptions.

The committee plans to conduct trial operations and safety checks throughout August. During this period, not only the completion of the exhibition halls but also weather resilience of the TFS tents, operational standards for maritime routes, and visitor capacity management for Gaedo and Geumo Island sub-venue programs will be key inspection targets. The expo will be held from September 5 to November 4 in the Jinmo District, Gaedo, Geumo Island, and the Yeosu World Expo site area.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.