On the 13th of last month, the World Expo (Expo) officially opened in Osaka, Japan. This is the second event held after 55 years since the World Expo in 1970. The venue for this Osaka Expo was established on Yumesima, an artificial island covering 155 hectares (1 hectare equals 10,000㎡).
Yumesima, which is about half the size of Yeouido, is an artificial island created from landfill since the 1970s. After it failed to host the Olympics in 2008, it was neglected and has now garnered attention due to this Expo. Currently, the entire island is being utilized as the venue for the Osaka Expo.
One of the highlights of this Expo is the 'Grand Ring,' the world's largest wooden structure. It is shaped like stacked wooden pillars, covering the area of seven soccer fields (total area of 60,135㎡). The traditional Japanese architectural technique of interlocking wood without the use of nails was employed. Visitors can roam around the upper and lower levels of the 12-meter-high Grand Ring, enjoying views of the Expo's surroundings.
According to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Expo, the preparation period for this Expo has been seven years, with expenses amounting to 318.7 billion yen (approximately 3 trillion won). Given the immense investment of time and money, expectations for the Expo are high. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan anticipates that 28.2 million visitors will attend during the six months of the event, generating an economic ripple effect of 2.9 trillion yen (approximately 28 trillion won).
Initially, ticket sales were sluggish, but they are gradually improving. According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), as of the 12th of this month, ticket sales have reached about 70% of the breakeven point. Local corporations purchased tickets in bulk, but the actual number of attendees has been lower than expected, making it essential to attract visitors in the remaining five months.
The Expo is a non-commercial international exhibition (economic and cultural Olympics) recognized by the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), where a country acts as the host and invites other nations to participate. Recognized expos are divided into 'Registered Expositions' that are registered with the United Nations and 'Recognized Expositions' that are not.
This year's Osaka Expo is categorized as a registered expo. The large-scale registered expo is held every five years for six months and covers a wide range of themes. The hosting country only provides the site, while participating countries construct their pavilions at their own expense. There are no limitations on the exhibition area. South Korea, for instance, invested 44 billion won in building its pavilion.
Recognized expos are medium-sized specialized exhibitions that can be held for up to three months. They have specific themes, and the host country constructs pavilions that are rented to participating countries, either for a fee or free of charge. The exhibition area is limited to a maximum of 250,000㎡. The Daejeon Expo in 1993 and the Yeosu Expo in 2012, both held in South Korea, were recognized expos.
The Expo is considered one of the three major festivals in the world, alongside the Olympics and the World Cup. It is a massive event that attracts over 20 million visitors, with an economic ripple effect significantly greater than that of the Olympics and the World Cup.
Busan attempted to host the 2030 World Expo but lost out to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. At the time, Busan estimated that hosting the Expo would generate an economic effect of 61 trillion won and create 500,000 jobs. According to data from the Korea Industrial Research Institute, the production impact of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics was approximately 11.5 trillion won and 20.5 trillion won, respectively.
The main theme of this Osaka Expo is 'Designing Future Society for Our Lives.' The three sub-themes are 'Saving Lives,' 'Empowering Lives,' and 'Connecting Lives.' A total of 158 countries, including South Korea, are participating, with over 110 pavilions set up under the theme of a testing ground for future society.
Each country can decorate its pavilion based on a chosen theme, and South Korea is conducting its exhibition under the theme 'Connecting Lives.' South Korea first participated in the Expo in 1893 and has been involved in 28 expos to date, excluding the Japanese colonial period and the Korean War.
The Korean Pavilion is located in Zone C4 of the Expo grounds, covering an area of 3,501.82㎡. The building is painted white with 'KOREA' written on it, and a large media façade measuring 27 meters wide and 10 meters tall is displayed on the side. This features five media art pieces themed around South Korea, designed to give a sense of Korea even without entering the pavilion.
In the waiting area of the Korean Pavilion, 288 pieces of Hansan moshi hang from the ceiling. Sunlight filters through the Hansan moshi, creating natural lighting. The Korean Pavilion has created three exhibition halls under the theme of 'Consolidation,' each offering immersive content lasting about 10 minutes. Professor Go Ju-won from Seoul National University of Science and Technology served as the executive director, focusing on immersive experiences using artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Composer Yang Bang-ean and music director Lee Ji-soo arranged the sound for each exhibition.
The official mascot of this Osaka Expo is named 'MYAKU-MYAKU.' It has a blue body with a red head and five eyes. The design represents a red cell born in blue water, with a concept of remaining unidentified. Since its release, its unique appearance has sparked mixed feelings locally, being described as 'strange' and 'cute.'