Visitors to the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo can browse and buy seafood from across southwestern Korea at a special market running from October 10 through November 1. The program, organized by the expo committee in cooperation with the proposed integrated Jeonnam-Gwangju metropolitan authority, is designed to connect the event’s island theme with the region’s food culture and fishing economy. The first edition of the “2026 Jeonnam-Gwangju Seafood Special Sale” took place at the expo plaza on October 10, with another major sale scheduled for October 17. Eight booths are being operated by fisheries cooperatives and producers from Yeosu, Wando, Yeonggwang and Haenam, along with an eel-farming cooperative and abalone growers. The selection reflects the variety of Korea’s southwestern coast. Yeosu products include croaker, conger eel, yellow croaker, cuttlefish, flounder and dried anchovies. Wando is represented by seaweed, kelp and abalone porridge, while Yeonggwang is known for gulbi, a traditionally dried and seasoned yellow croaker product.
Haenam vendors are offering prepared abalone, seasoned seaweed, seaweed snacks and other regional specialties. Prices are being offered at roughly 20 to 50 percent below typical retail levels, according to organizers. For international visitors, the event provides an accessible way to encounter Korean seafood beyond familiar restaurant dishes. Many of the products are packaged for take-home use, making the sale especially relevant to travelers interested in regional food souvenirs and everyday Korean cooking. The seafood program is part of a larger expo schedule that combines exhibitions, educational activities and live entertainment. The 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo is being held under the theme “Islands, Connecting the Sea and the Future,” with venues in the Dolsan area, the Yeosu Expo site and nearby islands including Gaedo and Geumodo. The event is scheduled to continue until November 4.
The expo reopened on October 7 after improvements to exhibition explanations and hands-on programs. Organizers said school groups and other organized visitors have been arriving during weekdays, while weekend programming is aimed more at families and general tourists. Concerts and stage events, including jazz performances and a variety show, have also been planned around the market dates. For travelers planning an autumn visit to Yeosu, the seafood sale offers a practical reason to spend time at the expo plaza rather than treating the event as a purely exhibition-based stop. The October 17 market is the next confirmed opportunity to sample regional products and see how the coastal economy is being presented as part of Korea’s contemporary tourism culture.