YEOSU, KOREA — Under the theme of 'The Living Ocean and Coast,' sustainable ocean environment, wise use of the ocean, and creative union between the ocean and humankind, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will be held for 93 days, from May 12 to August 12, 2012, in Shinhang district, Yeosu, Jeollanamdo.
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will suggest a new paradigm with the Blue Economy, through ocean innovation, in order to breathe hope and creativity into the ocean, which currently finds itself in an environmental crisis.
The combined size of the exposition sites amounts to 1.74 million㎡ including 250,000㎡ for the exhibition area, 540,000㎡ for Expo Town, 160,000㎡ for Expo Station, and 440,000㎡ for transfer parking lot, and the park.
Officially approved by Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea aims to invite over 100 countries, five international organizations, more than 10 corporations, and 16 local governments, in addition to over 8 million visitors including 55,000 from outside Korea.
From an economic perspective, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is expected to generate KRW 12.2 trillion of national production and KRW 5.7 trillion of additional value, and also create 79,000 jobs.
Total KRW 2.1 trillion, including KRW 700 billion from the private investment, will be poured into the Expo, and apart from the project cost, the government is planning to spend additional KRW 9.5 trillion on improving SOC, such as the roads, railroads, and harbors around the Expo site.
Hope for humanity, 'the Living Ocean and Coast'
'The Living Ocean and Coast,' theme of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, represents the hope to create harmonious coexistence between the ocean and humanity, along with the earth and ecosystem as a whole, by pursuing sustainable growth and biological diversity.
2012 marks the 10th year for the Johannesburg Conference and also the end of the first commitment period of Kyoto Protocol, which forces the global community to discuss environmental issues such as ecosystem and coexistence.
The themes of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will be essential in the post-Kyoto era, and provide guideline for the international society to promote sustainable development by creating harmony between the nature and humanity, developed countries and developing countries, as well as between the current generation and the future generation.
The subjects are categorized as: Coastal Development and Preservation; Creative Maritime Activities; and New Resource Technology, the significance of which, in particular, is growing for the survival of humanity.
Theme-based Exhibitions: '2050: future union of the ocean and humanity'
The exhibitions at Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will attempt to take a glimpse into the future society of 2050, the age of Blue Economy.
A vision for the future of humankind, Blue Economy suggests, with creative science technology, thoughtful planning for the future of the ocean through the coexistence of economy and environment and integration with culture.
2012 is not only the target year for green growth, set by Korean government, but it will also become a crucial year for the humankind. Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will project the future relationship between the ocean and humanity in 2050, regarding the development of scientific technology predicted based on the available data as well as creative imagination.
As opposed to the traditional view focused on human race living on the earth, Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will embody the future where the ocean-based humankind pursue coexistence with the ocean and its resources.
The government has set the green development plans for environmentally-friendly Expo, and is now preparing for the event based on them, while making efforts to provide solutions for climate change and green development.
Notably, by issuing 2010 environmental plans report, the government is planning to declare 'green expo' in and outside the country, and also continue their effort through Green expo management system, by improving the marine environment of Yeosu Shinhang and air quality in Gwangyang Bay, and setting up solutions to manage waste from the Expo.
Location and Place
Yeosu, meaning 'beautiful water', boasts particularly beautiful landscape in east Asia, and the land has the shape of a butterfly.
As the meeting point of Dadohaehaesang National Park and Hallyeohaesang National Park, Yeosu encompasses 317 islands and a ria coast, and the city also joined the 'Club of the Most Beautiful bays in the World' in 2009.
The region has a geographical significance as a place where the continental civilization converges into marine civilization, as well as the nature into the industry.
Located at the center of south coast of Korean peninsula, Yeosu is the exit of Eurasia into the ocean. Historically, it has been a tactical spot for interaction among the north-east Asian countries including Korea, China, Russia, and Japan, and also for the advance into the Pacific Rim.
Also, Yeosu has globally renowned mudflat, marine national park, harbor facilities, and industrial complex, setting an example for harmonious utilization of the ocean.
Emblem and mascot
The symbol of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea represents the harmony of the earth, ocean and ecosystem. The red denotes the living things on the earth and in the ocean, blue, the clean and clear ocean, green, the coexistence within the ecosystem, and the white wave in the middle symbolizes the wave of Dadohae sea and flow of water, while the overall circle signifies the harmony on the planet Earth.
The name of the mascot Yeoni (left) means 'open' in Korean, implying that Expo 2012 Yeosu Expo is open to the whole world, whereas Suni (right) means both water and excellence, to represent the excellence of the marine exposition.
Both Yeoni and Suni were designed based on plankton, with the colors depicting shades of the ocean, and especially the blue represents the infinite resources of the ocean.
Yeosu declaration and Yeosu project: choice for the future of humanity
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea will attempt to find different solutions for the conservation and sustainable utilization of the ocean, while, at the same time, 'promote international collaboration for marine conservation by adopting 'Yeosu Declaration.'
Apart from Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, 2012 is a meaningful year for global efforts regarding sustainable development as it is 40th year since the Stockholm conference (1972), 20th for RIo declaration (1992), and 10th for Johannesburg declaration (2002).
Yeosu Declaration, which will make another footstep for sustainable development, celebrates such efforts and encourages the bond among international community for the Expo's theme 'the living ocean and coast.'
The spirit of Yeosu Declaration is embodied by 'Yeosu Project', a program designed for developed countries to share their technologies with less developed countries for sustainable development and marine conservation.
As part of Yeosu Project, the Korean government will provide total 1 billion won for less developed countries, between 2009 and 2012. The support will also include projects such as education and training, aid for research and development, and expert delegation. The main projects will be focused on maintenance and conservation technologies for marine ecosystem; response to marine contamination; marine exploration; utilization of marine resources; development and utilization of marine organism; exploration and development of marine mineral; environmentally-friendly fishing technologies; restoration of fish families and state-of-art fish farming; port logistics technologies; and marine equipment, etc.
