REPORTER’S NOTEBOOKLights, but no clarity: Inside Korea’s puzzling pavilion at Osaka Expo
OSAKA, Japan — When it began in 1851, the World Expo served as a showcase for industrial innovation, technological advancements and cultural achievements from around the globe. Today, it has evolved into a venue where countries promote their identity, values and innovation. Visiting the Expo’s 36th edition in Osaka, Japan — which opened on April 13 and runs through Oct. 13 — this reporter found that the Korea Pavilion left many, especially Korean visitors, underwhelmed. Its abstract representation of Korea and overall dim atmosphere failed to resonate. The pavilion features a rectangular digital media facade that displays Korea’s four seasons, iconic landmarks and K-pop dances. Inside, the exhibition is divided into three halls. The first, which this reporter found the least successful, offers a light show where visitors record their voices before entering. Inside, they hear their voices layered with artificial intelligence-generated orchestral music, accompanied by synchronized light beams. Although exhibition director Koh Joo-won explained that the underlying message was “
May 19, 2025By Kim Se-jeong
