EXPO Yeosu 2012 News Pick

More pavilion plans to be unveiled in Yeosu

13/10/2011 - Participants are working on the plan and design of their pavilions to present the theme "The Living Ocean and Coast" as the preparation of Expo Yeosu 2012 is approaching the final phase.

The number of official participants, including countries and international organizations, has reached 108 for Expo Yeosu as of October 12, 2011.

In September, five more countries, including Spain, Singapore and Tunisia, signed participation contracts which brings the total number to 23, according to the official website of Expo 2012 Yeosu.

"We plan to have sealed contracts with at least 100 countries by the end of this year," said Hwang Eui-seon, Deputy Director for Overseas Management of the Organizing Committee, according to the Expo Yeosu website.

Among the latest participants signing the contract, Spain's pavilion, on the theme "Explore Spain", will focus on its ocean exploration in the New World and research on biodiversity, while Tunisia will display its efforts in preserving marine resources on the Mediterranean coast.

France has also started its promotion for the pavilion by unveiling to the public the design of its pavilion at the French Cultural Center in Seoul on September 28. The French pavilion will present the theme "France, its Coasts, its Oceans" and hopes to attract one million visitors to continue the success it had at Expo Shanghai 2010.

The three-month international exposition, on a smaller scale but with a very strong specialized theme, is expecting more than eight million visitors from May 12 next year.

The BIE Secretary General Meets Prime Minister Kim Hwang-Sik

13/05/2011 - The Secretary General of the BIE, Vicente G. Loscertales met the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Kim Hwang-Sik, during his visit to Seoul on May 11th 2011.

The Secretary General spoke of the importance of the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea and its theme "The Living Ocean and Coast" and praised the efforts of the organisers to realise a successful exhibition. Furthermore, he referred to the need for concerted efforts for a global communication of Expo Yeosu and its theme, especially in light of the current international efforts to overcome the serious challenges related to the environment. The Secretary General noted that a reinforced participation of corporations to the exhibition would increase the level of innovation capacity and technological capacities.

In turn, Prime Minister Kim reiterated the support of the Korean Government for the hosting of Expo 2012 Yeosu.

Prime Minister Kim visited the city of Yeosu on May 12th, one year before the opening of the Expo, to chair the 10th Committee Meeting on Governmental Support for the Expo.

Fifth International Symposium of the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea / Korea Maritime Institute

13/05/2011 - The Organising Committee for the Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea and the Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) hosted jointly the Fifth International Symposium in Seoul on May 12th 2011.

The International Symposium was held under the theme « Our Changing Ocean: Innovation & Opportunities ». It was yet another occasion to gather experts around the Expo theme and to address more specifically issues related to maritime industry and explore strategies for its sustainable development respectful of the environment. Held exactly one year before the opening date of the Expo, this symposium has presented the ocean through the perspective of technological innovation and creative management. The Expo 2012 Yeosu will be held in Yeosu from May 12th to August 12th 2012 under the theme « The Living Ocean and Coast ».

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the BIE Secretary General, Vicente G. Loscertales, recalled that "The Living Ocean and Coast" reflects a concrete and urgent challenge the whole world is facing. One that, as the title of the symposium highlights, carries with it many opportunities for innovation. Each Expo Forum offers a glimpse of the future Expo by bringing together international experts and participants to advance the understanding of the theme. In turn, this is an opportunity to sharpen the vision of the Expo and of the content it should offer to the visitors.

The keynote speeches were made by Kwak Seung-jun, Chairman of the Presidential Council for Future and Vision, on Korea's future business management strategies and the ocean, and Kim Joo-hyung, President of the LG Economic Research Institute, on the survival and management in the global economy."

A special session on global fisheries trends and future prospects included a presentation by Árni M. Mathiesen, Assistant Director General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.

A great number of leading figures and experts attended the fifth symposium and addressed a wide range of topics contributing with messages and ideas to the making of Expo 2012 Yeosu.

Yeosu Project of marine technology transfer kicks off

16/03/2011 - The Organizing Committee for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea said that the first annual training course of the Yeosu Project, a program designed to support developing countries in the oceanic and maritime field, has begun on February 24.

Korean oceanic and marine technologies will be provided to countries, such as Tuvalu, Fiji, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, that face difficulties related to oceans and coasts, including the threat of tsunami.

The Yeosu Project is an initiative put forward by the Korean Government during its campaign to attract the 2012 Expo to Yeosu. It is an international cooperation project with a total investment of 10 billion won up to 2012.

For the first-year program, the Organizing Committee received a total of 109 proposals from major coastal countries in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, of which 12 projects were singled out.

Phase one of the training programme will be conducted for more than 50 ocean-related officials and experts from five countries. The two-week programme will consist of lectures, on-site training and study tours at the Korea Institute of Construction Technology Education, the Korea Ocean and Fisheries Institute and the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Centre.

Through the Yeosu Project, the Organizing Committee plans to help developing countries secure quantitative improvements in ocean-related fields and promote Expo 2012.

It is the first time in the history of Expos that the organisers have accompanied the Declaration which will be pronounced at the end of the Expo by a concrete example of its implementation, the Yeosu Project.

(Source: EXPO Yeosu official website - www.expo2012.or.kr)

Construction of the Expo Yeosu site 40% complete

40% of the construction work for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea has been completed. The construction of all Expo buildings will finish by December 2011.

The Aquarium building, which will become Korea's largest aquarium (6,030 tons), has the height of a four-story building.

Shown in the picture below is the site of The Big-O where aquatic events will take place on the sea. Covering an area of 105,584m2, The Big-O will be filled with shallow seawater and used as a venue for cultural events and aquatic performances. It is a new concept facility designed to allow visitors to experience and enjoy the sea and marine activities.

The construction of key facilities such as the Theme Pavilion, Korea Pavilion, Sub-theme Pavilions, International Organisations Pavilion, and Corporate Pavilions is also underway.

The Expo Town, which will serve as accommodation for the personnel of the organiser, participating countries and international organisations, will be completed by late December this year.

To ensure a smooth operation of the event, the facilities will undergo a four-month test from January to April next year.

A parking lot for transit passengers will be constructed away from the site to prevent traffic congestion and shuttle buses will carry passengers to the Expo. The construction of the transit parking will start in June and will be completed by February 2012.

(Source: EXPO Yeosu official website - www.expo2012.or.kr)