Globalization of seaweed industry pushed

Wando, Korea’s largest edible seaweed producer, is seeking to raise its annual marine product earnings up to 1 trillion won. With growing exports of seaweeds to China, the United States and other overseas markets, Wando is pushing for the globalization of its seaweeds industry.

Visitors crowd the one of the exhibition sites of the 2014 Wando Seaweed Expo

Based on its heavenly natural conditions, the county will host Wando Seaweeds Expo 2017 for 24 days from April 14 through May 7, 2017 under the theme, “Promise of Seaweed, Challenge to the Future.” The seaweed-themed international exhibition will offer an “opportunity to look at the past, current and future of seaweeds including laver, sea mustard, kelp and fusiform that are appraised as healthy food,” according to Wando County officials.

Wando officials said that some 150 enterprises and institutions from 20 countries are expected to participate in the Seaweed Expo. In this regard, they said the event can be referred to as “an industrial expo.” During the Expo, there will be discussions on the ecological and nutritional values of seaweeds. Focus in international academic events will also be placed on the future growth potential of seaweeds. “Overall, the Expo aims to expand the consumer market of seaweeds and seek to develop new growth engines in such fields as new materials, new medicine and bio energy,” said the officials.

A bird’s eye view of the Expo venue

The Seaweed Expo 2017 Organizing Committee is tirelessly working to develop a wide range of products and programs that will be appealing to domestic and foreign visitors. The Expo will get five exhibition halls, Participating Hall and the Seaweed Hands-on Experience Center. Three exhibition halls are planned to be built under the oceans for the first time in Korea, and the other three exhibition halls on the ground.

Three exhibition halls due to be built under the seas:

According to the Wando Seaweed Expo 2017 Organizing Committee, the themed-Ocean Mystery Hall, due to be built underwater, will show the history and various types of underwater seaweeds using water screens for the first time in Korea. The Healthy Human Race Hall will exhibit “collections of seaweeds” composed of sea mustard to stress the value of seaweeds as a foundation for healthcare. The Future Resource Hall, meanwhile, will exhibit a diversity of biofuels, cosmetics and medicine, all made up with seaweeds. As such, the unlimited potential of seaweeds will be demonstrated.

Korea’s first floating exhibition site on the beach

The Seaweed Understanding Hall is set to offer information on seaweeds using interactive media. It will show the “superior quality” of Wando’s seaweeds among other things. Visitors to the Earth Environment Hall will get VR experiences which show that they are really under the sea. A “Business Plaza” will be built at the Participating Hall for B2B (Business to Business) and B2C(Business to Customer). Active business talks will be available between visitors to the Plaza.

The Seaweed Expo will present various events, such as international academic meetings and exhibits. There will also be programs for hands-on experience. The events include “Seaweeds Parade,” “Seaweed Fashion Show,” and “Seaweed Cooking Class.” “We will try to develop programs which foreign visitors and local residents enjoy together,” said the Expo Organizing Committee.

Seaweed and marine products experience site

Included in the hands-on experience activities are the “catch of fish hidden in seaweeds,” “healing baths” and “making pizza with seaweeds.” The fish catching program, targeting mainly children, will be developed with utmost emphasis on their safety. Children, who participate in the program, will be given gifts after being encouraged to release their catch.

The Seaweed Healing Baths are programmed to enable visitors to recover from their fatigue. The Making of Seaweed Pizza will give visitors to chance sample pizzas composed of fresh sea products. In addition, visitors will be able to get the good taste of seaweeds including sea mustard, kelp and fusiform.

Mysterious Sea Exhibition Hall

Plans call for attracting 600,000 visitors:

The Wando County Office and Expo Organizing Committee are seeking to attract about 600,000 tourists. For this purpose, the Committee is involved in active marketing. Efforts are focused on attracting group visitors and student groups. Tour companies are encouraged to attract up to 30,000 foreign tourists, including those from mainland China.

The two days, April 18 and 19, will be designated as “Day of Laver,” in an effort to help revitalize the domestic laver business. Up to 3,000 people including laver producers and fishermen are expected to attend the “Korea Wellbeing Laver Festival.” The Wando natives, who now live in areas other the island, are estimated to total over 300,000 nationwide. They will be encouraged to visit the Wando Seaweeds Expo 2017. Residents of “cities of sisterhood” will also be invited to visit Wando during the Expo period.

Of particular note, the Wando Seaweed Expo 2017 Organizing Committee developed a variety of programs targeting young students. The Seaweed Expo is expected to be introduced into social studies books for primary school students based in South Jeolla Province as the Organizing Committee signed an MOU with local education officials.

During the Expo, an international seaweed symposium is planned with domestic and foreign seaweed experts participating. About 60 foreign buyer firms will also be invited to hold business talks with Korean sea product exporters.

The Seaweed Expo Organizing Committee expects that 1,562 people will be employed during the Expo period, with earnings totaling 14.7 billion won. Visitors are expected to spend up to 83,000 won each. The Organizing Committee is working harder to attract a lot of visitors including 30,000 from overseas.

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