Yeosu Targets Expo Site for 1.2 Trillion Won Dome Project
The city of Yeosu is planning to coordinate with the Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City to enter the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s open call for a sports and performance complex dome stadium, mk.co.kr reported.
Clearing the International Pavilion Footprint
The initiative involves dismantling four buildings of the Yeosu World Expo International Pavilion to clear the 72,000-square-meter footprint for the 20,000-seat dome venue. Engineering and construction expenses are projected to reach 1.2 trillion Korean won. Municipal officials intend to submit a letter of intent by the 28th, undertake short-term service work, and finalize a formal proposal by December 8th to meet the ministry’s deadlines.
Reactivating Exhibition Grounds Through Tourism Assets
Yeosu city administration officials stated that the open call offers a breakthrough opportunity to reactivate the exhibition grounds following the global exposition. The blueprint seeks to use transportation and hospitality assets—including the KTX Yeosu Expo Station, local hotels, and existing exhibition and convention spaces—to draw large-scale concerts and athletic tournaments. Proponents anticipate that pairing major arena events with neighboring tourist attractions will drive visitor retention and boost local commerce.
Land Use and Funding Requirements
Municipal authorities cannot advance the bid independently because application eligibility is restricted to regional local governments and public institutions. Because the project site belongs to the Yeosu Gwangyang Port Authority, organizers must negotiate land use conditions and the disposition of current structures. Financing structure, government subsidies, land acquisition costs, and long-term maintenance expenses remain subject to preliminary feasibility studies and multi-agency agreements.
City Council Demands Fiscal Accountability
The Yeosu City Council passed a resolution on the 20th urging relevant agencies to coordinate a joint response. Council member Song Ha-jin stated during assembly proceedings that the city requires concrete determinations regarding who assumes financial and operational responsibilities rather than repeated expressions of interest. A Yeosu city representative confirmed that municipal staff will submit the initial intent letter on the 28th and draft detailed facility plans through subsequent consulting work.
