Yeosu World Island Exhibition opens, showcasing the value and appeal of islands for 61 days

The World Island Exhibition Organizing Committee announced on the 6th that the 2026 Yeosu World Island Exhibition officially opened with a ceremony on the afternoon of the 5th, beginning its 61-day run.
About 5,000 people attended the opening ceremony held on the afternoon of the 5th at the main venue in the Jinmo District of Dolsan-eup, Yeosu, including Yun Ho-jung, minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety; Min Hyung-bae, mayor of Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City; Yeosu Mayor Seo Young-hak; National Assembly members Joo Cheol-hyeon, Cho Gye-won, Shin Jung-hoon, Ahn Do-geol and Chun Ha-ram; Kim Kyung-soo, the president’s special political affairs adviser; as well as residents and visitors.
The opening ceremony consisted of four parts: “The Flow of Islands,” “The Opening of Islands,” “The Narrative of Islands” and “The Expansion of Islands.” It featured “Geomundo Boat Song” by the Yeosu Municipal Traditional Music Orchestra and “An Island Called You,” the exhibition’s theme song performed by the Yeosu Municipal Choir, followed by the opening declaration, welcoming remarks and congratulatory speeches.
In his congratulatory speech, Yun said, “An island is not simply land floating on the sea,” adding, “It is the history and culture of island villages carried on over many years, and the very lives of their residents.”
He continued, “I hope this exhibition, the world’s first to focus on islands, will provide an opportunity to discover the value of islands,” adding, “I hope many people across the country will experience the beauty of islands firsthand.”
The featured performance was the original musical “Sinjikke: The Last Mermaid,” inspired by the Sinjikke mermaid legend passed down in Yeosu’s Geomundo Island. A ceremony involving citizen representatives—including young people and students from island communities, haenyeo and successors in the fishing industry, cultural and artistic figures, and multicultural migrants—was also held, along with a drone performance depicting Yeosu’s 365 islands.
Meanwhile, the opening event for the main venue was held that morning. Key figures, including Organizing Committee Chairman Park Soo-kwan and Yeosu Mayor Seo Young-hak, cut a ribbon to mark the exhibition’s official opening. The mascot Dasimi welcomed visitors with a parade, and commemorative photo sessions were held for the first online ticket purchaser and the first person to buy a ticket on-site.
The 2026 Yeosu World Island Exhibition, under the theme “Islands Connecting the Sea and the Future,” will run for 61 days through November 4 at the Jinmo District of Dolsan in Yeosu, the Yeosu World Expo Site, Gaedo Island, Geumodo Island and surrounding areas.
[email protected] Jeong Sun-min Reporter