"Passing the Buck for Over 40 Days": Controversy Over Unpaid Facility Costs for Yeosu World Island Expo

Companies involved in facility construction for the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo are protesting after failing to receive billions of won in payments.

According to the 2026 Yeosu World Island Expo Organizing Committee and affected businesses on October 17, companies that participated in setting up the island expo sites, including the main venue in Jinmo District, Dolsan-eup, Yeosu, have not received billions of won owed for facility construction and rentals.

These companies signed facility contracts worth 1.7 billion won for containers, portable toilets, and air conditioning units with Company A, the general implementation planning agency for the island expo.

However, as the performance and materials of various facilities were upgraded and supply volumes increased, costs reportedly surged by an additional several billion won.

The companies claimed that a total of about 30 businesses have not been paid an increased amount of 3.5 billion won.

Company A signed a comprehensive implementation plan totaling 19.7 billion won with the Expo Organizing Committee, encompassing operation agency services, event operations, facilities, and staging.

Among this, the facility cost was limited to 1.7 billion won, meaning the increased expenses must be covered by drawing from budgets under other categories. However, procedures such as budget item changes have been delayed, resulting in postponed payments.

Discrepancies in the amounts to be paid between Company A and the companies also leave room for potential disputes.

An industry representative stated, "Company A told us they would pay once approved, but we have been waiting for over 40 days trusting those words. Company A and the organizing committee are just playing ping-pong with each other."

An official from the organizing committee stated that a tripartite meeting was held today to discuss countermeasures, adding that they will actively mediate by discussing procedures such as settlement amounts and approval of changes.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.