Riesenne, which rapidly rose to prominence as a leading girl group thanks to the "Geoje yaho" meme (internet viral content), will take the stage at the Island Day opening ceremony in Yeosu on Aug. 6. With the Yeosu World Island Expo set for this year, attention is on whether it can drive a boom in island tourism.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety held an appointment ceremony for ambassadors to promote the 7th Island Day at Government Complex Seoul on the afternoon of the 21st.
At the ceremony were Vice Minister Kim Min-jae of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS), Vice Mayor for Administrative Affairs Hwang Ki-yeon of Gwangju, South Jeolla, Mayor Seo Young-hak of Yeosu, and the promotional ambassadors.
Those appointed as Island Day promotional ambassadors were Riesenne; singers Ha Hyun-woo and Ahn Sung-hoon; actor Jung Yi-rang; chef Jung Ji-sun; and camping YouTuber Rirang. The appointment event, held in a talk concert format, drew a steady stream of Government Complex Seoul employees hoping to see the ambassadors.
Island Day is a national commemorative day designated on Aug. 8 each year to highlight the value and importance of islands. The government holds annual events to share with the public the value of islands' natural, cultural, and tourism resources.
In particular, this event comes ahead of the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo, which will be held in Yeosu from Sept. 5 to Nov. 4 for two months. It is seen as a preliminary test that could gauge the expo's success.
To boost the event's popularity, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) appointed a large number of celebrities as promotional ambassadors. Going forward, the ambassadors will communicate the value and importance of islands in a way that resonates with the public, while taking part in producing various promotional content and delivering congratulatory performances at the opening ceremony to showcase the islands' diverse charms.
Riesenne will join singer Ha Hyun-woo on stage for the opening ceremony on Aug. 6. Ha has served as a promotional ambassador for four years. Ahn Sung-hoon, who has been on board since last year, will perform on Aug. 8, the day of the event.
In addition, Jung Ji-sun and Rirang plan to introduce unique foods found only on island trips and hidden camping spots through video content. Jung Yi-rang, joining as an ambassador for the first time this year, will also appear in the ceremony video and promotional video.
This year's Island Day event will run for four days from Aug. 6 to 9 under the theme "Romance recharge, island," centered around the Yeosu Expo site.
The venue will be designed not just as an exhibition space but as a place to experience the leisure, excitement, and sensibility felt only on islands. The exhibition hall will include a space where visitors can write their own "romance wish (bucket list)" of things they want to try on islands. Starting with a celebratory stage on Aug. 6, a live broadcast of "Park Myung-soo's Radio Show" will be held on the night of the 7th.
There will also be hands-on programs. A "walking event" will be held to take in the unspoiled scenery of islands by strolling along Geomundo's famous Bireong-gil, Gaedo's Bonghwasan and Cheongseokpo, and Hwahwado encircled by flower paths. For children, the next generation, there will be a "children's island drawing contest" and a "children's island expedition," and a "island academic conference" hosted by the Korea Island Development Institute (KIDI) will be run with substance to explore sustainable development alternatives for islands.
Minister Yoon Ho-jung of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) said, "Islands are Korea's precious asset, where beautiful nature, unique culture, and the warm life stories of those who have kept those places come together," adding, "I hope many people visit Yeosu this summer to fully enjoy the special leisure and excitement offered by 'Romance recharge, island' and make happy memories that will last a long time."
He added, "We will continue to support our islands so that their unique value and charm naturally permeate people's daily lives and so they can firmly establish themselves as destinations people always want to revisit and places where people want to live."