"Seaweed and Laver as Future Food"... Wando Steps Up Bid to Host 2028 International Expo

Aiming for International Event Approval in the First Half of Next Year

Wando County in South Jeolla Province has officially launched efforts to secure international event approval for the '2028 Wando International Seaweed Industry Expo'.

According to Wando County on October 16, the county successfully hosted seaweed expos twice in the past, in 2014 and 2017. In particular, the 2017 expo attracted approximately 1 million visitors and generated an economic impact of about 300 billion won, demonstrating the potential of the seaweed industry.

Wando County held a briefing session for the approval of the '2028 Wando International Seaweed Industry Expo' as an international event. Photo by Wando County

The 2028 expo, themed 'Seaweed: From the Origin of Life to the Future of Humanity', is scheduled to take place at the Wando Beach Park area. The event will feature seven exhibition halls, including a hall dedicated to seaweed understanding, as well as an international seaweed symposium and export consultation sessions, positioning itself as an industry-focused expo.

Through this expo, the county aims to achieve comprehensive goals, including highlighting the value of seaweed as a blue carbon resource, developing food industry models to address climate change, expanding international exchanges, and revitalizing the local fisheries-based economy.

To this end, the county completed the final report for the 'basic planning project' in May. In cooperation with South Jeolla Province, it has been continuously consulting with relevant central government ministries such as the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and the Ministry of Economy and Finance. The plan for hosting the international event will be submitted to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries within this month.

The government’s decision on whether to approve the event as an international event will be made in the first half of next year following a policy evaluation and other assessments. The county also plans to strengthen cooperation with international organizations and related institutions, along with forming an expo organizing committee in the future.

Governor Shin Woochul stated, "This expo will be an opportunity to showcase the excellence of Wando seaweed to the world," adding, "We will devote all our efforts to secure government approval for the international event and obtain support at the pan-governmental level."