The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, running from September 5 to November 4, is drawing intense global attention as it unveils its grand scale. Held under the inspiring theme "Islands, Connecting the Ocean and the Future," the expo brings together 31 overseas local governments and nations to highlight the ecological, cultural, and strategic value of islands worldwide. Spanning a massive venue equivalent to 26 football fields, the event integrates cutting-edge technology, rich cultural exchanges, and immersive tourism programs across eight main exhibition halls and various sub-venues.
At the core of the main venue, the landmark "Theme Island"—a 20-meter-high pyramid structure wrapped in vibrant LED media facades—greets visitors by portraying the past, present, and future of global islands through striking visual art. Moving inside, exhibitions vividly present data-driven insights into island environments and historical formations.
The exhibition experience extends into specialized zones. The "Future Island" pavilion showcases advanced maritime mobility, featuring actual Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft models and hydrogen-powered eco-friendly vessels. Visitors can experience a 360-degree surround-screen virtual UAM flight over Yeosu’s future seas, alongside demonstrations of marine micro-power plants and Pacific plastic-island regeneration technologies. Meanwhile, the "Marine Ecology Island" introduces a digital aquarium featuring 91 designated marine protected species by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, complemented by iconic global island replicas like Easter Island’s Moai and Madagascar’s baobab trees. The "Treasure Island" zone offers an interactive augmented reality (AR) treasure hunt, making learning playful and engaging for families and children.
Furthermore, international cultural, food, and specialty market pavilions allow visitors to experience diverse global island heritages in one place. Entertainment is equally abundant, with a 3,000-seat open-air stage hosting 133 performances, including K-pop and trot concerts, global island folk arts, night performances, and electronic dance music (EDM) parties. Cultural highlights include a musical based on the mermaid legend of Geomundo Island and traditional dance showcases.
Beyond the main site, sub-venues like Gaedo and Geumoedo islands offer rich hands-on programs. Gaedo features island camping, fishing village life experiences, and healing yoga sessions, while Geumoedo offers its famous Biranggil trekking, culinary tasting tours, and local millet-wine brewing workshops. Additional citywide festivals—such as the Namdo K-Garden Festival featuring works by world-renowned garden designer Hwang Ji-hae, the Culture Month event, and the Yeosu National Heritage Media Art festival—further amplify the festive atmosphere, cementing Yeosu’s status as a global hub for marine and island culture.
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