Representatives of official participants of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea paid a visit to the host city of Yeosu on Feb. 9, 2012, ten months after the Second International Planning Meeting for the Expo was held in April, 2011.

About 300 delegates from 101 out of 106 participating countries and nine international organizations toured the Expo site and the International Pavilion, which stand at a 93-percent progress rate, checking the final phase of site construction.

Participating countries are allocated pavilions for their national exhibitions, either individually or as a group, and organize various exhibits under the Expo’s theme, “The Living Ocean and Coast.” Fifty nations including the United States, France, China and Japan will open individual pavilions within the International Pavilion, and 56 countries will be divided into three areas, named after the three major oceans – the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean – and open three joint pavilions. Exhibition spaces have been handed over to the participating countries since November last year, and the exhibitors are now gearing up to finish the installation before the Expo opening date.

Germany has chosen “Achievements in oceanic and coastal related science and technology” as the theme of its exhibition, and will install a huge circular screen to display 3D images of the under-the-sea environment with various marine creatures found at different water levels. A geographically low-lying country with some parts of the land and population located below sea level, the Netherlands will exhibit how the people there have survived the unfavorable conditions and managed water resources. The original copy of Hamel's Journal and a Description of the Kingdom of Korea, 1653-1666 written by Hendrick Hamel, the first Westerner who experienced Korea first hand during the Joseon Dynasty after a shipwreck off Jeju Island, will be displayed as well. Japan’s theme is “The Future of Japan and the Sea,” and its exhibition will feature the collective endeavors and strong will of the Japanese people to overcome the great hardship inflicted by the deadly tsunami last year.

“Visitors can enjoy quality exhibitions and interesting contents on the ocean, organized by a number of countries around the world,” said Director Lee Jong-hwan for International Exhibition of the Organizing Committee. “The Expo will also be a place to get a taste of international cuisine such as the Belgian waffle, German sausage and beer, and Turkish kebab.”

*Government press release (February 15)