"Will This Really Become Another Jamboree?" 70 Billion Won Spent, but Just "Luxury Vinyl Greenhouses"?... Yeosu Islands Expo Opening Weekend Falls Flat

Over 30,000 Visitors on Yeosu Islands Expo's First Weekend
Zhoushan City Pulls Out, Disrupting International Pavilion Operations
Kim Seontae's Video Resurfaces: "This Isn't Promotion, It's Exposé"
Organizers: "We'll Make Up for It by Attrac

The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo, which has set a visitor target of 3 million, saw only around 30,000 visitors during its opening weekend, casting a shadow over its prospects for success.

The main event venue in the Jinmo district of Dolsan-eup, Yeosu City, Jeonnam Gwangju, where the opening ceremony of the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo was held on the morning of the 5th. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to the organizing committee for the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo on September 7, a total of 35,668 visitors attended the event during its opening weekend on the 5th and 6th. On Saturday the 5th, 25,417 people visited, while attendance dropped to 10,251 on the 6th—less than half the previous day's number. Given that both the opening ceremony and a concert by a popular singer took place, these results are being viewed as disappointing.

The expected traffic congestion did not occur. While the committee had worried about severe traffic jams near Dolsan Bridge and Geobukseon Bridge, which connect to the main venue in the Jinmo district of Dolsan-eup, in reality, traffic volume was not much different from an ordinary weekend, and there were no significant parking issues.

Unexpected setbacks just before the opening hampered the event. Zhoushan City in Zhejiang Province, China, notified organizers that it would not run its promotional pavilion or take part in official events at the Expo's International Exchange Island. This move is seen as fallout from controversy over the name "Taiwan Pavilion" at the Gwangju Biennale. In July, the organizing committee held a tourism briefing session in Jilin Province, China, and signed agreements with local institutions and tourism associations. It had also been working to send around 5,000 Chinese group tourists through travel agencies. However, with Zhoushan City's withdrawal, the operation of China-related content at the International Exchange Island is also expected to face difficulties.

Is an hour enough to see it all?...Tourists say "It's smaller than expected"

Some visitors complained there was so little to see that it took less than an hour to tour the main venue and have a meal. On social networking services (SNS), the reinforced tent-shaped exhibition halls at the main venue were ridiculed as "luxury vinyl greenhouses."

2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo Main Venue Panorama. Photo by Yonhap News

The landmark "theme island" built in the shape of a pyramid was constantly displaying a media facade to encourage visitors to take “proof shot” photos, but criticism arose that the content inside did not meet expectations. According to a report by JTBC on the 7th, one visitor commented on a symbolic tree installed inside the theme island as a symbol of an island’s vitality, saying, "It feels somewhat random. I don't know what connection this has to the island." The Future Pavilion introduced a future-oriented aerial mobility terminal called a vertiport and set up an experience booth, but the only activity provided was printing a ticket. A Japanese tourist said, "It's smaller than I expected. I thought there would be a long row of national pavilions, but that wasn't the case," expressing disappointment.

The main offerings at the secondary venue on Gaedo Island are camping and "three meals a day," but the camping site was just 68 parasols on a vacant lot with no shade structures. Due to insufficient electrical capacity, circuit breakers triggered whenever plugs were used. Vendors had to dispose of all food ingredients and withdraw. One vendor said, "We can't stay here because food is spoiling without electricity. I've been to events all over the country, but I've never seen anything like this." The lawn plaza, where events were supposed to be held, was empty, and derelict boats that had been abandoned at the port for five months remained untouched. A Yeosu city official told JTBC, "We can't carry out construction while visitors are coming every day. We're planning to strengthen the events program."

"Will this be another jamboree fiasco?"...The 'Chungju Man' video resurfaces

Meanwhile, a promotional video made in April by former Chungju City public official Kim Seontae is being discussed again. Mr. Kim uploaded a video titled "Yeosu Promotion" to his channel, but footage from five months before the opening showed the main venue’s lack of readiness. In the video, Mr. Kim asks, "Why did you bring me here?" To which a Jeonnam Provincial Government official replies, "The event is in September, but isn't it meaningful to see before-and-after scenes too?"

Mr. Kim Seontae eating with an expo official on an island littered with discarded fishing gear. YouTube

The difficult conditions at the site were clearly shown. The uninhabited island Geumjukdo, which was visited together, lacked a pier, making disembarkation difficult, and one official was filmed stepping into the seawater. The video also showed people eating food on an island littered with discarded fishing gear. Online commenters responded by saying, "This isn't promotion, it's an exposé," and "Will this become another jamboree-like disaster?" The organizing committee explained that infrastructure construction was 76 percent complete and progressing as planned, but criticism about poor management after the opening echoed those earlier concerns, bringing renewed attention to the video.

With a total investment of KRW 70 billion, the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo is being held under the theme "Islands: Connecting the Sea and Future" until November 4, across the Jinmo district, Yeosu World Expo site, Gaedo, and Geumo Island. The organizing committee plans to reach its target by attracting group visitors for school field trips, experiential learning programs, and corporate training.

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