Yeosu Expo 2012 in South Korea kicks off with high-tech opening ceremony
The Telegraph
After four years of work and $10 billion (£6.2bn) in investment, the Yeosu Expo has kicked off with a spectacular high-tech opening ceremony. A total of 104 nations and 10 international organisations will stage exhibitions over the next three months in the city of Yeosu in South Korea, under the theme of "The Living Ocean and Coast".
Picture: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GettyImages
Organisers hope for about 10 million visitors, including up to 500,000 foreigners mainly from China and Japan. They predict the event will create some 80,000 jobs and bring economic benefits worth 19 trillion won (£10.2bn) - outweighing the billions spent on the site and new hotels and upgrading roads and railways. Picture: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak speaks at the opening ceremony
Picture: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
A spectator (bottom R) visits the South Korea pavilion Picture: EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
A spectator visits the Singapore pavilion Picture: EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
The France Pavilion Picture: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GettyImages
A spectator visits the South Korean pavilion at the Yeosu Expo site
Picture: EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
A robot performs at the Hyundai Motor Group pavillion Picture: EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
The Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering displaying robots for deep sea exploration
Picture: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/GettyImages
The Big O pavilion is illuminated during the opening ceremony Picture: EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
Fireworks light the sky for the opening ceremony of the 2012 Yeosu Expo
Picture: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Dancers perform on the Big O stage Picture: EPA/JEON HEON-KYUN
South Korean girl group 2NE1 performs during the opening ceremony Picture: Ahn Young-joon/AP
A South Korean choir performs during the opening ceremony Picture: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images