Full-scale rehearsal invites 20,000 visitors ahead of opening
Expo runs 61 days from Sept. 5
Circular visitor routes designed to ease movement
Family-friendly facilities put to the test
Wayfinding and information signage flagged for improvement
![Visitors enter the main venue of the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo. [2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo Organizing Committee]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/08/30/news-p.v1.20260829.a9a111b42cfb43029097e07e993bffa0_P1.jpg)
The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo held a full-scale operational rehearsal with 20,000 invited guests one week before its official opening, giving organizers a final chance to test their systems under real conditions.
The organizing committee said it hosted the large-scale "Preview Day" on Saturday at the main venue in the Jinmo district of Dolsan, Yeosu, ahead of the expo's Sept. 5 opening.
The rehearsal was designed to go beyond a simple preview event, allowing organizers to assess the expo's content and visitor experience from an attendee's perspective and identify areas for improvement before opening day. Facilities operated on the same schedule as the actual event — from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. — covering the full visitor journey from entry and movement through to departure, and verifying that operational plans across each division were functioning as intended. The review spanned 14 areas, including crowd management, transportation and shuttle services, parking, entry and exit procedures, ticketing, exhibitions, performances and hands-on experiences, food and beverage, safety and medical services, and protocol.
Visitors streamed in as soon as the gates opened at 10 a.m., touring the themed island pavilions, major exhibition halls and outdoor spaces.
On-site inspections focused heavily on creating a visitor environment suited to families. Children's dedicated attractions — including a "Treasure Island" zone — and family-oriented amenities were deployed throughout the venue. Convenience and retail facilities were positioned to support visitors during their stay. Outdoor spaces making use of Yeosu's coastal scenery and natural surroundings were also in operation, with sea-view rest areas integrated alongside exhibition halls to reflect the region's distinctive environment. However, organizers flagged the need for more intuitive wayfinding and visitor information within the venue as an area requiring improvement.
The organizing committee said it would analyze feedback from the rehearsal by division, address immediately fixable items as a priority, and resolve any remaining issues before the official opening.
Kim Jong-gi, secretary-general of the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo Organizing Committee, said the preview day "was not a showcase of a finished expo, but a chance to identify inconveniences from the visitor's perspective and address them in advance." He added that organizers would "carefully review the wide range of feedback from citizens and the press and make improvements so that visitors can enjoy the expo more comfortably and safely before opening day."
The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo runs for 61 days from Sept. 5 to Nov. 4 under the theme "Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future," with events held at the main venue in the Jinmo district of Dolsan, Yeosu, as well as at the Yeosu World Expo site and on the islands of Gaedo and Geumodo.
terry@heraldcorp.com
