SEOUL, KOREA --- Korea will show off its advanced IT technology at the 2012 Yeosu Expo to be held from May 12 through Aug. 12 in the coastal city of Yeosu, South Jeolla Province. Lee Jeong-bae, Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Expo 2012 Yeosu said, “In keeping with our status as an IT powerhouse, we will offer stable services to participants in the global event by making the best use of network and server construction technology.”
In an interview with the Korea IT Times, CIO Lee said, “We will also liven up the festive mood of the Yeosu Expo through such IT platforms as an exhibition portal or SNS, with high resolution 3D quality, which cannot be compared with the Shanghai Expo.”
Noting that the reason why Korea is called an IT powerhouse stems from its strong competitiveness in such infrastructures as hardware and network, he said, “However, it is still fragile in software. Accordingly, we plan to introduce software based on powerful hardware and stable networks, this time.
“Among core contents we plan to introduce are a cyber exhibition, mobile specialization and intelligence-type guide service. Offering such services seems to be natural in Korea, the superpower in games, mobile devices, and displays, but most other countries cannot provide such technology.” For instance, the organizing committee of the Shanghai Expo failed to offer such mobile, wireless network, and intelligence-type guide services owing to a shortage of stable networks, powerful hardware, and technology, he said.
The 2012 Yeosu Expo will be designed to help visitors enjoy intelligent services through the grafting of ocean culture and ubiquitous-IT technology, he explained.
“To effectively deliver ocean culture-related subjects to visitors through a variety of exhibitions, which are differentiated from those displayed at other Expos, we are now preparing smartphone Apps, an intelligent guide system, RFID entrance tickets and ubiquitous sensor network technology,” said Lee.
“For instance, visitors will be able to book their admission tickets, accommodation, and even shop for Yeosu’s specialties online with just a few clicks. On site, the expo will operate a real-time booking and guiding system for smartphones, which will significantly reduce queuing times for visitors,” said Lee.
The Expo Digital Gallery
Asked about exhibitions to be displayed at 2012 Yeosu Expo, he said, “First of all, we will establish the Expo Digital Gallery (EDG), which is an electronic art gallery where people can experience communication between the sea and human beings through IT technology. It will feature interactive contents grafted onto advanced IT technology, including a ‘dreaming whale,’ a ‘safe spot,’ a ‘kiss cam,’ and a ‘reaction float.’ “To this end, we are now building an integrated information system that can manage advanced IT services, including multimedia, video and data, stably and effectively based on super-speed wired and wireless networks.
“Through this, people around the world can use the cyber exhibition service through the portal page of 2012 Yeosu Expo at anytime and anywhere. Visitors to the cyber exhibition can look around the virtual exhibition halls by using 3D graphic technology, and enjoying indirect visiting experiences.
The Yeosu Expo organizing committee will also offer the smartphone App service with which visitors can receive a variety of basic and supplementary services, including the exhibition guide, tour information, a guide for car parking based on GPS and location-based services (LBS), a smart map service, and interaction with major exhibition contents.
“Now is an era of information, speed and communication with the number of domestic smartphone users exceeding 10 million. “In addition, we plan to operate an ocean robot exhibition hall, which will feature an eight-meter giant robot, Star-5 sea animal robots, and other ocean-related robots to attract interest from the youth,” he explained.
The Construction of the information system
When asked to make a comment on the construction of an information system, CIO Lee said, “We will place the focus on basic network infrastructure, cyber exhibition, smartphone specialization, the Expo Digital Gallery, the Robot Ocean Park and the RFID/USN Expo. We plan to invest a total of 100 billion won, including 40 billion won from private capital investment, in the information system. However, the economic effects stemming from the investments are expected to reach some 1 trillion won.”
The three-month Expo to be held under the theme "Living Ocean and Coast," is expected to attract some 8 million visitors from 100 countries, he said adding that Yeosu Expo is the nation’s second international fair following the 1993 Taejon Expo.
“If the Taejon Expo placed its focus on science and technology, the Yeosu Expo has the character of a comprehensive exhibition covering all areas including culture, science and the arts,” said Lee.
The Expo, one of the world’s big three events along with the Olympics and the World Cup, will provide an unprecedented opportunity for Korea to polish its national brand, he said.
As a whole, Yeosu Expo is expected to bring about some 12.2 trillion won in production inductive effects, including 5.7 trillion won in value added and job creation for some 79,000 people.
A total of 3,200 cultural performances, art and academic events are to be held during the 93-day Yeosu Expo to help domestic and foreign visitors enjoy, feel and think, he said.
In particular, the 48 meter-long ocean stage with 3,000 seats to be set up at the Big-O will provide unforgettable memories and pleasure to visitors with new media shows and ocean performances.
A total of 25 countries, including Spain, are scheduled to hold their own national day celebration events during the exhibition period in order to show off their traditional dances and other cultural performances.
As of Oct. 30, some 60 percent of the construction work for the Yeosu exhibition hall was completed. Work for all exhibitions and structures will be finished by the end of March next year, he said.
Commenting that 96 countries from Asia, Europe, America and Africa decided to participate in the Yeosu Expo, Lee said, eight international organizations, including the U.N., will also attend the world Expo.
Meanwhile, the nation’s seven large companies: Samsung, Hyundai Motors, SK, LG, Lotte, POSCO and GS, all finalized their plan to participate in the international event.
“All preparations for the global events have been carried out smoothly. We plan to finish software preparations for contents and cultural arts events by early next year,” Lee said.
“Everything will be set by March next year,” he said, adding “From April, we will start test-operating all established facilities in a bid to provide perfect service to visitors.”
The expo will help promote and share the country’s knowledge and experience in “green growth” with participating countries, international organizations and companies.
“The expo will showcase the wise development of the ocean and coastal areas for sustainable growth of the planet,” Lee said.
“If we hold the 2011 Yeosu Expo successfully, the Korean people will pay more attention to culture, science and arts, not to mention economy, offering a foothold for Korea to join ranks of advanced countries in terms of both economic power, culture, IT and arts,” he added.
