With 100 days to go before the opening of the 2026 Yeosu World Archipelago Expo, final preparations are picking up speed. At one point, a YouTube broadcast by "Chungju Man," Assistant Deputy Director Kim Seon-tae, sparked controversy over insufficient preparation, but continued support from central and local governments has since pushed the main venue's construction progress past 70%. The organizing committee plans to finish major facility work by the end of July, conduct a trial run in August, and open in September.
According to the 2026 Yeosu World Archipelago Expo organizing committee on the 2nd, the expo will open on Sept. 5 in the Jinmo District of Dolsan, Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. This expo is the world's first international event with "islands" as its theme. The committee is preparing it as a stay-type expo that goes beyond simple exhibits to let visitors experience island ecology, culture, and future industries together.
◇ Main venue 73% complete… aiming for completion by the end of July
The main venue, the core space of the expo, is currently 73% complete overall. Although there were initial concerns about delays, construction on key facilities has recently accelerated, and preparations are proceeding to meet the end-of-July completion target.
The landmark facility "theme island" is currently 57% complete. The theme island will be built to 40 meters wide, 40 meters long, and 20 meters high. Visitors will pass through a media tunnel to enter and be greeted by a large symbolic tree sculpture. An LED media facade will be installed on the outer wall, making it a symbolic space of the expo against the backdrop of Yeosu's night sea.
The open cultural space, which will be used for performances and rest, has risen to 91% completion. The committee plans to finish this facility by June 25. The eight exhibition halls being built with TFS tent structures are currently about 50% complete. An official with the committee said, "Since the exhibition halls are being built as tent structures, the construction period is not long," adding, "We plan to finish all facility work by the end of July, conduct a trial run in August, and officially open in September."
◇ Eight exhibition halls on marine ecology, future industries, and international exchange
A total of eight exhibition halls, including the theme island, will be installed at the main venue. Each hall will be organized around themes such as island ecology, culture, future industries, and international exchange.
The marine ecology island hall will recreate the ocean ecosystem with bio-cubes featuring marine protected species designated by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and a digital aquarium. The future island hall will exhibit a full-scale Urban Air Mobility (UAM) aircraft and hydrogen vessels to showcase the future of island and marine industries.
The culture island hall will be designed as a space to showcase cultural content set on islands in Korea and abroad. The treasure island hall will run experiential programs for children and family visitors, including a marine life AR experience and Adventure Island. The international exchange island hall will house booths from 30 countries and three international organizations to introduce each country's island policies and cultures.
Stay-type content will also be arranged outside the exhibition halls. The 7,000㎡ world and Korea island theme zone will feature sculptures shaped after Easter Island, Madagascar, the Maldives, the islands of Yeosu, Dokdo, Gapado, Cheongsando, and more. An art photo zone and outdoor gardens will also be created to encourage visitors to stay longer at the expo grounds.
◇ 133 performances alone… varied experiences shuttling between Yeosu and the islands
A total of 133 performances will be held on the open stage and in the special performance hall at the main venue during the expo. The opening ceremony will unveil an original musical inspired by Geomundo's "Sinjikki legend." Special performances by participating countries and Korean local governments, a trot champion show, and K-pop concerts are also in the works.
International cultural exchange events will also be held. On "Island Friends Day," performance troupes from 15 countries, including Greece and Peru, will participate to present traditional dances and maritime folk cultures.
At the secondary venues, Gaedo and Geumodo, programs will be run for hands-on experiences of the expo's theme of "islands." In Gaedo, 16 programs will be offered, including island camping, an arts night festival, and healing and wellness programs. In Geumodo, 21 experiential programs are being prepared, including the Bireong-gil stamp tour—famous for its coastal cliff trail—along with island dining stories and island spot tours. An eco international music festival and an island work camp are also scheduled.
◇ Half-price ferries and free buses… transportation measures also prepared
The organizing committee and local governments are also preparing transportation and tourism benefits to attract visitors. The representative measure is half-price ferry fares. For the six routes connecting the secondary venues of Gaedo and Geumodo, 50% of ferry fares will be subsidized.
South Jeolla Province, through the "half-price island travel" program, will refund up to 100,000 won in local currency to tourists who spend 200,000 won or more on island lodging and experiences. Sixteen city bus routes with 29 buses serving the Dolsan area and the islands will operate free of charge. On weekends, up to 60 shuttle buses may be deployed. Plans to add more KTX trains to Yeosu and increase capacity are being discussed with relevant ministries.
However, the time remaining until the opening is not ample. Even if facility construction is wrapped up by the end of July, the month of August must be used to finish checks on exhibit content, adjust visitor flow, and finalize transportation and lodging measures and staffing for island-area programs. Early September weather variables on the southern coast and responses to weekend visitor surges are also cited as factors that could determine the expo's success or failure.
An official with the organizing committee said, "We are focusing less on how much we show and more on how deeply visitors can experience it," adding, "We will do our best in the remaining period to prepare facilities, content, and hospitality measures so visitors coming to Yeosu in September can leave with an experience that exceeds expectations."