2021 Wando International Seaweed Expo, Exhibition Hall Production and Installation Underway

The Nation's Only Maritime Exhibition Hall, Maritime Experience Center, and Outdoor Scenic Facilities Planned for Installation

2021 Wando International Seaweed Expo Site Bird's-eye View (Photo by Wando-gun)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Kyung-pil] The Secretariat of the Wando Seaweed Expo Foundation announced on the 5th that although there are restrictions on promotional activities due to COVID-19, they are thoroughly preparing countermeasures such as installing quarantine systems to ensure the expo can be held smoothly in April next year.

In May, the basic plan forming the blueprint for the expo was completed through exhibition hall installation and production services, and preparations for the design, production, and installation of the exhibition halls will begin in August.

The 2021 Wando International Seaweed Expo, held for the third time following 2014 and 2017, will take place from April 23 to May 16 next year for 24 days around Wando Port under the theme "Sea of Healing, the Future of Hope Opened by Seaweed."

The expo venue will use large floating docks (barges) across the wide expanse of Wando Port to install six unique marine exhibition halls, the only ones of their kind in Korea, along with two marine experience zones and various outdoor seaweed landscape facilities for visitors to enjoy.

The first exhibition hall, the "Understanding Hall," will be installed at the Seaweed Center and will display various seaweed specimens to introduce the concept of seaweed and its value.

The second exhibition hall, the "Life Hall," will feature large human organ models to create a space where children can easily understand the benefits of seaweed for strengthening immunity and other health effects.

The third exhibition hall, the "Environment Hall," emphasizes the various environmental protection aspects of seaweed.

In particular, by showing changes in marine resources caused by global warming and phenomena such as "Gaetnogeum" (sea bleaching), it aims to raise awareness among visitors about marine environmental issues while demonstrating the environmental value of seaweed in addressing these problems.

The fourth hall, the expo’s theme hall called the "Clean Sea Hall," will present fantastic images of Wando’s pristine sea through large-scale projection mapping.

The fifth exhibition hall is the "Marine Healing Hall." The marine healing industry has been practiced in Europe for over 100 years and is a high value-added industry that significantly contributes to job creation and income generation. In Korea, Wando County is leading this initiative.

As the 2021 Wando International Seaweed Expo is promoted in connection with the marine healing industry, the Marine Healing Hall will clearly explain marine healing activities that use Wando’s clean environment, seawater, sea breeze, seaweed, and maekbanseok (a type of volcanic rock) to heal the mind and body and promote health.

Finally, the "Corporate Hall" will sell various seaweed products from small and medium-sized enterprises. The popular "Seaweed Experience Zone" from previous expos will be expanded with additional actual seaweed and abalone farming facilities to show how seaweed is farmed and harvested and how abalone, which feeds mainly on seaweed, is cultivated.

Additionally, the "Seaweed Circular Aquarium," which received great response at the 2017 expo, will be placed outdoors to break away from confined spaces and allow many visitors to view it in a spacious area.

Moreover, various outdoor landscape facilities that will capture visitors’ attention, such as seaweed tunnels and floating marine exhibits, are planned to be installed.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.