Sustainable Use of Sea
International Workshop for 2012 Yeosu Expo Theme Development

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries(MOMAF) held a theme development workshop for 2012 Yeosu Expo with the attendance of Vincent Gonzales Loscertales, Secretary General general of Bureau of International Expo (BIE) at Lotte Hotel on Sep. 28. In this meeting, Minister of MOMAF Oh Keo-don, BIE Advisor Claude Servant, Participants Director Juan Correas, President of the Jeollanamdo Bidding Committee Jin Yeong-noh, Mayor of Yeosu City Kim Chung-seog, Rep.member of National Assembly Joo Seung-young and many other related experts were present to discuss possible drafts of theme and indicate where this discussion should be headed.

Theme foundation of successful Expo

Sec. General Loscertales stressed in his keynote speech, titled "Five Points for Successful Expo"the importance of theme. He took a positive view on theme about "Sea and Ocean"that is the most possible subject of theme saying that it's highly appropriate for 2012 Expo considering the geographical condition of Korea and Yeosu. And he noted that if it is to win the sympathy of citizens of global community, it has to be about sustainable use of sea and future vision. Explaining that the key to the successful expo is the choice of the theme, he told that the theme must be of global interest, one of the major issues for the future of civilization as a top priority for national governments or one on the policy agenda of key international organizations.
He also said that it should ring bells in the top echelons of the corporate sector as well as among representatives of civil society and non-governmental organizations, and it must be future-oriented and project a powerful fascination for trade, dialogue and co-operation. As for other four important elements for successful expo, he mentioned public participation, site and host city, communication and publicity.
BIE Advisor Claude Servant also emphasized how deeply the success of expo depends on the appropriateness of selected theme.

He said that the theme must be specifically and well defined current issue which is also future-oriented, attention awakening, accessible & acceptable to people from various regions, and it should have global implications that contemporary society cannot ignore. Especially, the theme should bear come close relation to the host city and region and be strategically appropriate for the circumstances in which the exposition is being held. He said MOMAF and Yeosu city should make every effort to attract not only the eyes of public, but also those of experts in various fields like government, international agency, private company, NGO, academia, etc., with the examples of Vancouver 86's "Transportation."

How to avoid repetition?

Exploring a creative, original and also comprehensive theme is not an easy task. Though the outline of theme has narrowed its range into 'sea,' "we have to consider that there already have been numbers of expositions held under themes related with sea and water," "he Sea we would like to see"of 75' Okinawa Expo, "Oceans: A heritage for the future"of 98'Lisbon, "Christopher Columbus: The ship and the Sea"of 92'Genoa, "World of rivers as a source of life"of 82'New Orleans, and "Water and sustainable development?of Zaragoza 84'& 08, for example.
Lee Kun-chul, senior researcher of Gwangju Jeonnam Development Institute, pointed that the theme for 2012 Yeosu Expo should comprise sea, mankind and culture. As for five basic directions for theme selection, he suggested Establishment of marine reserves as the mother of 21C resources, Enhancement of mankind? role in using and developing oceans, Raise of the status of oceans as the driving force of cultural development and survival of mankind, Pursuit of harmonization between the development of technology and the utilization/development of oceans, and Development into a global festival. "2012 Yeosu Ocean Expo"should provide the chance to explore joint countermeasures, he added.
Since it failed in a bid for 2008 Expo suffer beaten by Shanghai, Yeosu has strived for 2012 Expo, more actively and strategically this time. This theme development workshop, never tried by Yeosu before, is one of the examples of its diversified efforts. Loscertales, Secretary General of BIE said that though three of four of European countries are on this 2012 Expo, the possibility is quite open for Yeosu. nw

Rep. Joo Seung-yong (left) speaks during a workshop on theme development for 2012 Yeosu Expo in Seoul on Sept. 28.