The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo underwent a final on-site inspection ahead of its opening on September 5. The event will run through November 4, with the main venue in the Jinmo District of Dolsan, Yeosu. The Yeosu Expo Ocean Park and the areas around Gaedo and Geumodo are also included as event sites.
What Was Inspected One Week Before Opening
On August 28, the Minister of the Interior and Safety inspected the venue facilities, major visitor routes, visitor amenities, transportation measures, and the safety-management system on site. The inspection also covered visitor movement and crowd-control measures in exhibition and experience spaces such as Theme Island, Future Island, Culture Island, and International Island, as well as the Island Theme Zone and Open Stage.
This inspection does not mean that all preparations are complete; it is the final confirmation stage, with remaining improvements to be made before opening.
Safety-management items included on-site responses to heat waves, storm and flood damage, typhoons, torrential rain, fires, and medical emergencies, along with the coordination system among the police, fire services, Yeosu City, and the organizing committee. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said it would address deficiencies identified during the joint inspection before the opening.
Transportation Measures Visitors Should Check
Yeosu City has announced that inbound one-way traffic will operate on part of Gangnam Coastal Road during the event period. The measure will be in effect from August 24 through November 4.
Transportation measures during the event include:
- 11 shuttle-bus routes
- 12 major temporary parking lots with 6,376 spaces
- 17 city-bus routes and 27 buses operating free of charge in the Dolsan area and island regions
- A 50% discount on fees at 15 public parking lots with 2,036 spaces that connect with shuttle buses and city buses
Because temporary parking and shuttle operations may change shortly before the event, visitors should check Yeosu City’s official transportation-measures page again before traveling.
Opening Ceremony Has Different Admission Requirements
According to the official announcement, the opening ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. on September 5 at the Open Stage in the Jinmo District, the main venue. Attending the opening ceremony requires both a ceremony-specific ticket and an Expo admission ticket. The ceremony-specific ticket alone should not be interpreted as granting admission to the Expo grounds.
The official schedule lists the 2026 World Islands Cities Conference as taking place at the Yeosu Expo Ocean Park from September 3 through September 5. Because related events will continue around the opening date, visitors should check the official schedule and admission requirements together according to the purpose of their visit.
Official Reference Materials
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety, “Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung Conducts Final On-Site Inspection of the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo”: https://admin.korea.kr/briefing/pressReleaseView.do?newsId=156775922&pWise=mSub&pWiseSub=C4 (checked August 29, 2026)
- Yeosu City, “Transportation Measures for the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo”: https://www.yeosu.go.kr/tour/information/trafficinfo/transportation_measures (checked August 29, 2026)
- 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo Organizing Committee, “2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo Program Schedule”: https://island.yeosu2026.or.kr/expo_schedule (checked August 29, 2026)
- 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo Organizing Committee, “Guide to Booking Opening Ceremony Tickets for the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo”: https://yeosu2026.or.kr/6_2/37 (checked August 29, 2026)
※ Transportation, admission, and safety information for the venue may change before opening. Visitors should recheck the official guidance for the latest information.