Minister of Public Administration and Security Yun Ho-jung: “I hope you can experience the life and beauty of the island residents firsthand.”

The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo began its 61-day journey with the official opening ceremony on the 5th.

The 2026 Yeosu World Island Wind Festival Organizing Committee held an opening ceremony on this afternoon at the open stage of the main stadium built in Jinmo District, Dolsan-eup, Yeosu-si, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do.

About 5,000 people attended, including Minister of Public Administration and Security Yoon Ho-jung, Jeonnam Gwangju Unified Special Mayor Min Hyeong-bae, Yeosu Mayor Seo Young-hak, National Assembly members Joo Cheol-hyun, Jo Gye-won, Shin Jeong-hoon, Ahn Do-geol, and Cheon Har-ram, Presidential Special Advisor for Political Affairs Kim Kyung-soo, citizens, and visitors.

The opening ceremony consisted of a total of four parts, including ‘Island Flow (pre-ceremony)’, ‘Island Opening (official event)’, ‘Island Narrative (theme performance)’, and ‘Island Expansion (celebratory performance)’ to share the island’s journey with visitors.

The pre-ceremony event was filled with the screening of a promotional video introducing the venue, Yeosu, and the Yeosu City Traditional Music Orchestra's 'Arirang Fantasia'.

At the official event, the Yeosu City Gugak Orchestra opened with the traditional performance 'Geomundo Shanty Song', which was designated as the first intangible cultural asset of the old Jeonnam Province in 1972, and the Yeosu City Choir performed the expo's theme song 'You Are an Island'.

The opening declaration, welcome speech, congratulatory speech, and congratulatory videos from domestic and foreign key figures followed.

Minister of Public Administration and Security Yoon Ho-jung said, “An island is not simply a piece of land floating on the sea,” and “It is the history, culture, and lives of the residents themselves of an island village that has lasted for a long time.”

He continued, “I hope that the world’s first island-themed expo will serve as an opportunity to discover the value of the island,” adding, “I hope that many people will experience the beauty of the island for themselves.”

As for the theme performance, the original musical 'Shinjiki: The Last Mermaid', based on the Geomundo mermaid tale 'Shinjiki' passed down in Yeosu, was performed.

Actors Bang Min-ah, Won Ki-jun, Park Gun-hyung and the group Billy Elliot appeared.

A ceremony attended by citizen representatives such as young people from the island, students, heirs of divers and fishermen, cultural artists, and multicultural immigrants, followed by a drone performance symbolizing the 365 islands of Yeosu, followed by a congratulatory performance by singer Park Ji-hyun and others.

On this morning, the main building was opened to visitors along with the opening ceremony.

The official mascot, ‘Daseomi’, welcomed visitors with a parade, and a commemorative photo was taken with the first ticket purchaser.

The 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo will be held in Jinmo District, the World Expo Center, and Gaedo and Geumodo Islands until November 4 under the theme of ‘Connecting Islands, the Sea and the Future’.