The groundbreaking ceremony for the Aquarium of Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea was held on the Expo site, located in the Yeosu New Port District, on March 23. The largest aquarium in Korea will exhibit rare marine biodiversity, including endangered species from across the globe.
The ceremony was attended by Members of the Special Committee of the National Assembly for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea including Congressmen Joo Seung-Yong, Kim Sung-Gon, Suh Gab Won, Huh Won Jae, and Kim Jeong; Choi Jang-Hyun, Vice Minister for Transport, Logistics and Maritime Affairs; Kang Dong-Suk, Chairman of the Organizing Committee; Park Joon-Yung, Governor of South Jeolla Province; Oh Hyun-Sup, Mayor of Yeosu; Lee Keun-Po, CEO of Hanwha Engineering & Construction; and some 600 local residents.

Yeosu Sea World, led by Hanwha E&C, will be both the construction company and operator of the aquarium to be completed in February 2012.

In particular, studies on the development of species preservation and farming technologies will be conducted at the National Fisheries Research & Development Institute, and a number of the world’s endangered species, namely the Beluga whale, Baikal seal, and Sea Dragon will be on display.

This will be the first time these species are exhibited in Korea. The Aquarium is expected to become a popular tourist attraction on the Southern Coast during the Expo and thereafter.

Preparations for the Yeosu Expo are expected to take off with the Aquarium and the cutting of the ribbon for the construction of over 20 Expo facilities to be built on the Expo site.

With the total cost of the project reaching 79 billion KRW, the Aquarium, composed of the Aqua Museum, Coastal Life, and Marine Life, will be the largest of its kind, boasting an area of 16,400 m2 and water tanks that can hold a total of 6,030 tons of water.

Source : Korea.net (April 2, 2010)