[비즈한국] Some in political circles are suggesting the possibility of Busan Metropolitan City making another bid to host the World Expo. A key issue when hosting large-scale international events like the Expo is the post-event utilization of facilities. Even if Busan were to challenge for a future Expo, it must clearly present post-utilization plans to gain public support. Currently, facilities built for the 2012 Yeosu Expo are being criticized for failing to be properly utilized. Bizhankook visited the Yeosu World Expo site in person to examine its current status.
After the 2012 Yeosu Expo concluded, many exhibition halls were demolished, but some facilities such as the International Pavilion and the Sky Tower were reopened as the Expo Ocean Park. The Yeosu World Expo site consists of buildings such as the International Pavilion, Korea Pavilion, Theme Pavilion, and Expo Convention Center, as well as facilities like the Big-O, Sky Tower, and Aqua Planet Yeosu.
The Yeosu World Expo site was owned and operated by the 2012 Yeosu World Expo Foundation until ownership was transferred to the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority in 2023. Currently, Yeosu Expo Management Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, is in charge of the consigned operation of the site. However, there is still widespread criticism that the post-utilization of the site is ineffective.
The largest building at the Yeosu World Expo site is the International Pavilion, with a total floor area of 132,635㎡ (about 40,000 pyeong), which is three times the size of COEX. The problem is that a significant portion of the interior of the International Pavilion remains vacant. Bizhankook visited the site on May 14 to observe the situation. Despite its magnificent exterior, there were many empty spaces inside.
Spaces worth visiting for general tourists at the Yeosu World Expo site are limited to restaurants, cafes, and museums. Most restaurants and cafes are located on the first floor of the International Pavilion. The first floor has doors connecting to the outside, making it easy for tourists to access. However, there were many vacancies even on the first floor. According to local merchants, some spaces on the first floor of the International Pavilion have remained vacant for years.
A wedding hall operates on the other side of the International Pavilion. As it is a wedding hall, there was a spacious dining area for guests. However, perhaps because it was a weekday, it was difficult to find anyone visiting the hall. The dining area was large enough that it could have been used as a high-end restaurant on weekdays. However, the lights were off, and the area was not in operation.
On the 2nd and 3rd floors, organizations such as the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, Yeosu Expo Management Co., Ltd., and the Yeosu World Island Expo Organizing Committee are located. Although several public institutions and facilities have moved in, a considerable amount of space on these floors is still vacant or used as storage. The Yeosu World Island Expo Organizing Committee occupies a significant amount of space, but this space will need to find a new purpose once the island expo concludes.
Facility maintenance at the International Pavilion also appeared inadequate. Escalators installed in the building were not only non-functional but completely blocked off with fences. Some information boards were rusted or torn. In some areas, doors were broken, and glass shards were scattered on the floor.
The Theme Pavilion at the Yeosu World Expo site has also failed to find a clear purpose. It is designated as a restricted area and is inaccessible to the public. The Korea Pavilion is at least being used as the 2012 Yeosu World Expo Memorial Hall and for small meeting rooms, and the Expo Convention Center is used for event bookings. However, as events are not held at the convention center daily, it is difficult to say that it is being utilized sufficiently.
The Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority has not completely given up on post-event utilization. In March 2024, it commissioned a master plan study for the site, and a mid-term reporting session was held in April 2025. During the session, the Port Authority stated, "(The study) is planned to proceed for 18 months from June 2024 to December 2025. Its purpose is to establish a step-by-step comprehensive development plan based on the years 2030, 2035, and 2040, and to derive a systematic and effective post-utilization plan through feasibility analysis."
However, the process of establishing the plan has been delayed as Yeosu City and civic groups demanded the suspension of the study. Yeosu City held a meeting last May to gather opinions from civic groups, who pointed out, "Even though 11 months have passed since the start of the master plan study, the facility plans lack mutual connectivity, making them unlikely to succeed, and there is a high possibility of operational problems after completion." An official from Yeosu City also lent weight to the civic groups' opinions by saying, "We will make active efforts to ensure that the aspirations of Yeosu citizens are reflected in the master plan."
An official from the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority stated regarding the master plan, "It is taking time because there are parts that require consultation with the local community and local government. We are in the stage of internal refinement, and a specific schedule has not yet been set."
As such, despite the Yeosu World Expo site having significant vacant space and operational issues, it is difficult to resolve these problems in the short term due to the complex web of stakeholders. For Busan Metropolitan City, post-event management is also extremely important should they host a future Expo. During its 2030 bid, Busan stated it would use the Expo Hall as a MICE facility. It also presented a blueprint for introducing commercial and tourist facilities and attracting new marine industries.
As the second-largest city in Korea, Busan has an advantage over Yeosu in terms of post-utilization. Nevertheless, there is no guarantee that commercial facilities will easily move into an Expo Hall. Some experts predict that if Busan pursues a 2040 Expo bid, it might look for a location other than North Port, which was the planned site for the 2030 bid. While North Port is close to Busan Station and centrally located, hosting the Expo in other areas could make attracting commercial facilities even more difficult. If a clear post-utilization plan cannot be presented and facilities are not properly operated after the event, the burden will have to be covered by taxpayers' money.