"Yeosu City Under Fire for Official Notice Targeting Taxi Drivers over 'Malicious Rumors' about Islands Expo"

Yeosu City requests taxi firms to "ban false rumors"

"Discontent over falling earnings may have fueled the rumors"

Drivers push back: "It's disheartening to be condemned"

Yeosu City in Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, has sent an official notice identifying taxi drivers as the source of false rumors circulating about the Islands Expo, sparking backlash from the taxi industry.

Taxi Industry Pushes Back Against City Notice: "Why Tarnish Our Hometown's Reputation?"

Yeosu World Islands Expo Site Embracing the Sea and Islands. Photo by Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on the 21st, Yeosu City recently sent an official notice to local taxi companies titled "Request for Education (Guidance) Prohibiting Taxi Drivers from Spreading Rumors Related to the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo." In the notice, the city stated, "There are public opinions that drivers are spreading rumors about insufficient preparations for the Islands Expo," and added, "We believe dissatisfaction over decreased income may have led to the spreading of these rumors."

The notice also included a comparison of individual drivers’ earnings over nine days, from the first to the second weekend of September last year and this year. The city argued, "No decrease in income was observed, but since the anticipated special demand did not result in a noticeable income increase, this may have led to dissatisfaction." The city went on to request that taxi company operators educate their drivers to avoid spreading unfounded rumors and, instead, help communicate the purpose and goals of the expo, suggesting that if the expo is successful, drivers' earnings would also increase.

The taxi industry, upon receiving the notice, protested, saying it "labels drivers as rumormongers." One taxi company representative told Yonhap News, "We would rather help out at an international event hosted by our hometown than damage its reputation by telling passengers things that aren't true. It is frustrating to see the city frame taxi drivers as if they spread malicious rumors simply because they are not making a lot of money."

Even before its opening, the Islands Expo had faced concerns about lack of preparation, dampening prospects for a strong turnout. According to the organizing committee, from opening day on the 5th through the 19th, the cumulative number of expo visitors reached 185,202—just 6.2% of the target of 3 million. The Islands Expo is scheduled to run for 61 days until November 4.

Ongoing Controversies Even Before the Expo Opens... "Constructive Criticism Will Be Accepted"

On the afternoon of the 5th, at the opening ceremony of the Yeosu World Islands Expo 2026 in Jinmo District, Dolsan-eup, Yeosu City, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, drones created the shape of the expo's official mascot, "Daseomyi," in the night sky. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Prior to this, a series of controversies emerged over the event’s management. The "Geomundo Boat Song" performance, which featured a one-ton truck decorated as a boat, was criticized for lacking production value compared to other international events. A video spread online also criticized the 14,900-won crab set meal sold at the event, claiming the accompanying side dishes were insufficient for the price. The organizing committee explained, "We used blue crabs from Yeonpyeongdo, not local dolge (hairy crab), and the price is 3,000 won cheaper than the same item sold in Seoul by the same vendor.” However, they also promised to increase the number of side dishes and enhance local performance productions.

Overseas trips taken by public officials were another point of contention. A search of the International Business Trip Training Information System for "Islands Expo" showed 107 reports, leading to criticism that "Islands Expo business trips" had exceeded 100 cases. The city acknowledged some reports were copied or insufficient but clarified that only 21 trips over the past three years (since 2023) were directly intended for benchmarking the Islands Expo.

Online, posts mocking citizen supporters involved in promoting the expo by capturing and ridiculing their faces began to spread. Yeosu City responded with an official statement: "While we accept constructive criticism, we will respond firmly to actions such as unauthorized use of citizens' faces for mockery or insults." The city is collecting evidence and considering filing police reports against such posts. Earlier, on the 12th, the organizing committee also announced it planned legal action, including criminal complaints and claims for civil damages, against online media and posts that cite or spread false information.

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