"14,900-Won Soy-Marinated Crab Set Meal—Is This Really Yeosu?" 70 Billion Won Spent on Island Exhibition Sparks Criticism Over Poor Quality

[Financial News] A 14,900-won soy-marinated crab set meal being sold at the 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea has sparked online controversy after critics said its contents were inadequate for the price.
Taste Director, a food-review YouTuber with approximately 640,000 subscribers, released a video on the 9th showing a visit to the 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea.
The Ten Tastes of Yeosu, officially promoted by Yeosu, includes Dolsan Leaf Mustard Kimchi, seodaehoe, spotted conger eel sashimi and shabu-shabu, grilled oysters, and grilled eel and eel soup. Soy-marinated crab set meals are also considered one of the region’s signature foods.
That day, Taste Director ordered a 14,900-won soy-marinated crab set meal at the exhibition venue. The tray contained soy-marinated crab and a bowl of rice, along with kimchi, corn salad, laver, and soup.
The sparse selection drew attention given the price. In Yeosu, most restaurants serve Dolsan Leaf Mustard Kimchi as a standard side dish, but it was missing from this meal as well.
Taste Director responded positively to the crab, saying, "There is a lot of meat." However, after tasting the rice, the reviewer said it felt as though it had been left in an electric rice cooker for about a day.
The scene quickly spread across social media and online communities. Users criticized the meal, saying, "Even a soy-marinated crab refill restaurant would probably serve more than this," "Is this really worth 14,900 won?" "Are they allowed to sell this?" and "I understand a lot of money was spent on the project—is this really the best they could do?"
Some users also shared photos of soy-marinated crab set meals sold for 15,000–20,000 won at restaurants or in other regions, comparing them with the food served at the exhibition.
Meanwhile, the 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea opened on the 5th under the theme "Islands Connect the Sea and the Future" and will run through November 4, centered on the Jinmo District of Dolsan, Yeosu. It features various exhibitions, hands-on activities, and performances designed to showcase the ecological and cultural value of islands and their potential for the future. The exhibition aims to attract 3 million visitors with participation from 30 countries, and its total budget is approximately 70.3 billion won.
[email protected] An Ga-eul Reporter