Screenshot from the YouTube channel ‘Kim Seon-tae’.
Amid ongoing controversy over a promotional video for the Yeosu Islands Expo by YouTuber Kim Seon-tae, the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo stated that “the project is proceeding without setbacks.”
According to Yonhap News on the 8th, the committee explained that the progress rate for establishing infrastructure is about 76%, and that the overall project is moving ahead as planned. Earlier, concerns were raised when it became known that, with five months remaining until the expo, whose total budget is 161.1 billion won, construction of the main venue had not yet been completed.
The controversy was sparked by a YouTube video from Kim Seon-tae, well known as “Chungju Man.” The video titled “Yeosu Promotion,” released on the 3rd on the YouTube channel “Kim Seon-tae,” showed the area around the planned expo site, with work still underway and untended surroundings exposed as they were.
Screenshot from the YouTube channel ‘Kim Seon-tae’.
In the video, when Kim Seon-tae asked, “Why did you bring me here?”, an official answered, “It might be meaningful to see the site before and after the event.” The controversy widened further when footage from the uninhabited island Geumjukdo showed discarded fishing gear left unattended.
After the video went public, internet users reacted with comments such as, “A second Jamboree fiasco is a concern,” “This feels more like internal whistleblowing than promotion,” and “An SOS signal disguised as promotion.” Others said, “Are preparations for the event really being carried out properly?” and “A thorough inspection is necessary.”
Additionally, according to a Yeosu MBC report on the 6th, the production cost of the promotional video was around 80 million won. Officials explained in interviews, “We tried to make it fun to match the sensibilities of younger audiences, but some aspects were received differently from what was intended.” In response, internet users commented, “With 80 million won, it stopped a 160 billion won waste,” and “Noise marketing succeeded.”
Amid ongoing suspicions of budget waste and controversy over poor preparation for the Yeosu Islands Expo, the organizing committee said, “With infrastructure construction about 76% complete, progress is on track,” adding, “During the expo period, we will welcome visitors with a completed site.”
Meanwhile, the “2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo” is an event co-hosted by Jeollanam-do Province and the city of Yeosu, and will run for 61 days from September 5 to November 4. As the first expo in the world with “islands” as its theme, a total of eight exhibition halls are planned to operate at the main venue.
