On November 26, 2007, Korea won its bid to host the 2012 World Expo in its southern coastal city of Yeosu. This year, under the theme “Living Ocean and Coast,” 106 countries and nine international organizations will showcase their diverse marine development and advancement of oceanic technology on the southern shore of the Korean Peninsula from 12th May to 12th August 2012.

Yeosu, a port city about 455 kilometers south of Seoul will play host to the 93-day event, the first here since the 1993 Daejeon Expo and is expected to lure around 8 million visitors around the world. At this Expo, countries will pledge and enhance their cooperation to protect the ocean for the future survival of the world.The Exposition will be an opportunity for the international community to clearly understand the role of the ocean, coast and the challenge facing humanity caused by the reckless development of the ocean and coast.