World Island Exhibition Yeosu set for September, but readiness questioned

An aerial view of Yeosu’s island-dotted coast and bridges in South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of organizing committee for World Island Exhibition

Organizers of the 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu said preparations are on track, pushing back against a wave of public concern that the coastal expo could become a repeat of the disastrous 2023 World Scout Jamboree, and welcoming President Lee Jae Myung's attention to step up support.

“We know people are worried about a 'second Jamboree,' but this is not a rushed, makeshift event,” an organizing committee official told The Korea Times Wednesday. “Now that the president said he will look after the expo, we will collaborate more with the central government to scrutinize any weak spots even more closely.”

The anxiety was largely sparked by a viral video posted by YouTuber Kim Seon-tae — widely known as "Chungju Man," who formerly ran a popular YouTube channel for Chungju, North Chungcheong Province — showing the main venue in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province as a vast dirt lot and parts of nearby islands littered with abandoned fishing gear.

The footage spread quickly, prompting critics to invoke the Jamboree debacle, referring to the 2023 World Scout event in Saemangeum, North Jeolla Province, which was marred by extreme heat, poor sanitation and inadequate infrastructure.

Lee raised the issue directly at Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, telling ministers to intensify support for the international event, citing increasing worries over infrastructure and promotion with only months left before opening.

The island event, officially branded “Expo 2026 World Island Exhibition Yeosu Korea,” will run from Sept. 5 to Nov. 4, using Yeosu’s main Jinmo area as a venue and nearby islands such as Gae Island and Geomun Island as 13 exhibition and experience zones.

“This is the first government‑approved international expo to put islands at the center,” the committee official said. “Islands are the places that feel climate and demographic crises first, but they are also rich in ecological, cultural and industrial resources. We want to rediscover that value and build a global consensus around it.”

The official said the expo has already reached its initial target for participants. Twenty-nine countries and three international organizations have so far confirmed that they will join the event, with more expected to sign on in the coming months. Organizers hope the event will bring many foreign visitors — as many as 3 million — to the coastal city during the 61-day run.

Workers are seen at the construction site for the main venue of the 2026 World Island Exhibition in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, Monday. Courtesy of Yeosu city government

According to the committee, infrastructure work, including water and sewage systems and pedestrian paths, has reached nearly 80 percent completion and is expected to be finished by June. All core facilities — including the “Theme Island” pavilion and eight exhibition halls — are to be completed by July, with a monthlong pilot operation the following month.

The committee official framed the fair as a launch pad to connect the country’s southern coast more closely and directly with the rest of the world, and as a test case for balanced national development centered on islands.

South Jeolla Province alone accounts for more than 2,000 of Korea’s roughly 3,300 islands, yet many remain underdeveloped compared with some iconic overseas resort islands such as Hawaii. With proper development approach, islands can drive regional economic growth and improve the lives of their residents who have long experienced isolation, she added.

“The World Island Exhibition Yeosu will be more than just a local event — it will be a major turning point for elevating the value of islands into a national strategy and sharing it with the world,” Kim Jong-ki, secretary general of the committee, said in a statement released Tuesday. “We will review every step of the preparations together with local residents and make it a world-class island exhibition that represents Korea.”