Gov’t, cities, conducting development plans for Yeosu World Expo 2012
As Korea’s National Assembly recently passed a special law to help the preparation of Yeosu World Expo 2012, neighboring cities are cooperating to support the exposition and attract tourists.The port city of Yeosu, 455 kilometers south of Seoul, won the right to host the 2012 World Expo, fending off a challenge from Tangiers of Morocco and Wroclaw of Poland to hold the global industrial fair.
According to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries on Feb. 23, the special law requires forming of a funding foundation to support the preparation of Yeosu’s World Expo.
Led by the prime minister, the proposed funding foundation will consist of 30 committee members, including Yeosu Mayor, Governor of Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province) and officials of the Ministry of Homeland and Maritime Affairs.
The law will also require expanding the scope of financial support for the Yeosu Expo to a higher level than other previous international events, so that it can help speed up the construction of exposition buildings, commercial and harbor facilities, accommodation, and roads.
Kim Young-suk, Director General for marine policy at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said the enactment of the special law will give fresh momentum to the preparation of Yeosu World Expo 2012 and the Yeosu Expo committee will do its utmost to prepare the event as a world-class marine-themed exposition that can contribute to the country’s goal of achieving balanced development and becoming an advanced marine country.
The special law, proposed by 28 lawmakers, will be officially announced and take effect within a week, according to the ministry.
Meanwhile, Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province) is taking action to attract tourists in cooperation with the Yeosu World Expo 2012. The inauguration of the new administration gives fresh momentum to local entities in the province, as it enacted a special law to support the development of East, West and South Sea coastal areas.
The Province has announced it will conduct 107 development projects, including 31 Yeosu Expo-related– and 76 South Sea development plans, in the region.
South Sea development plans include creating industrial clusters of shipbuilding, machinery and aviation sectors, building nine port facilities, 15 culture and tourism projects and seven environment-related projects, including building an eco town and hosting an international environment exposition.
The province’s Yeosu Expo-related projects contain constructing a bridge linking Yeosu and Namhae, an expressway between Busan, Jinju, Mokpo and Namhae, building a marine park in Jinhae and supporting the yacht industry in Namhae.
Tongyeong, one scenic region around Yeosu along with Jinhae, Jinju and Namhae, will inject 10 billion won by 2010 to undertake a theme-based tourism complex development project in at Hansando where traces of Admiral Yi Sun-shin (1545-1598) remain. Admiral Yi is noted for victories against the Japanese fleet during the Toyotomi Hideyoshi invasion of the Korean Peninsula in 1592. He is also credited for his innovation of the Geobukseon, or “turtle ship,” a warship considered one of the world’s first ironclads.
To commemorate the legendary Joseon Dynasty navy admiral, Tongyeong plans to upgrade its annual festival “Hansandaecheop” by providing 70 million won, and develop various programs by promoting Admiral Yi’s invention of Geobukseon, restoring his fortress Tongjeyong and building a theme park named Admiral Yi Sun-shin.
Namhae-gun (county) will speed up the construction of Hallyeodaegyo (bridge) that will connect Yeosu and Namhae in time for the expo, in order to maximize the synergy of the international event. Namhae County plans to attract tourists who visit Yeosu with the vast National Hallyeosudo and National Archipelago marine parks.
By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff writer
Tags: Expo 2012