KOTRA Opens ‘Korea Pavilion’ at Osaka Expo to Showcase Tradition and Technology

President Kang Kyung-sung of Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) explains about economic spill-over effects of Expo 2025 Osaka at a meeting with a joint Korean press team covering “Korea Pavilion” in Osaka Prince Hotel on May 12.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) opened “Korea Pavilion” to demonstrate Korean’ intrinsic tradition and technology at Expo 2025 Osaka that gets under way for a 184-day run from April 13 until Oct. 13.

Korea Pavilion is operated under the main theme “With Hearts” and the subtheme “Connecting Hearts, Lives in Bloom.”

Under the concept “Future Forward with Hearts,” the booth shows technology power based on Korea’s traditional sentiment of affection and craftmanship and Korea’s will toward a sustainable future. It aims to convey a message of sincerely connecting tradition and modern times, human beings and technology, and Korea and the world.

Among some 60 people on hand at an opening ceremony were MOTIE Vice Minister Choi Nam-ho, KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung and Jin Chang-soo, Korean consul general in Osaka.

Korea Pavilion is set up at a large site covering 3,501.82 sq. meters with a media façade, measuring 27 meters high and 10 meters wide, being installed at its outside to display the nature of four seasons, cultural heritage and advanced technologies in videos, designed to attract spectators’ attention.

Its inside is decorated with refined design elements, inspired by aesthetics of traditional textiles and natural lighting to offer exhibition experiences with sensitive and a sense of immersion combined with future-oriented technology content.

The opening ceremony coincided with a ceremony to unveil “Wall Celebrating Korean Residents in Japan,” in honor of the late Lee Hee-geon, honorary chairman of Shinhan Bank, who supported the establishment of the Korea Pavilion while heading a Korean residents’ committee for supporting the Expo 1970 Osaka.

It also commemorates the Lee Hee-geon Korea-Japan Exchange Foundation’s donating of 300 million won in the establishment of the Korea Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka in honor of the late Lee’s will.

The donation is evaluated to be a significant symbol of promoting civilian friendship between Korea and Japan and promoting cooperation.

The multi-language website introducing the Korea Pavilion was opened in time for opening the pavilion.

The homepage consist of four categories — introduction of the Expo, introduction of Korea Pavilion, news/inquiries, and related links.

It is connected with Korea’s tourism and investment attraction platform, thus extending concern over the Korea Pavilion to tourism and investment attraction.

KOTRA President Kang Kyung-sung said, “Korea Pavilion is a space to share Korea’s true feelings toward a future society, advanced technology power and cultural depths along with the world, and we will do our utmost so that the Expo will not only expand cooperation between Korea and Japan, but also it could lead to practical exchanges, such as trade and investments.”

A media façade, installed by LG Electronics, at the outside of Korea Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. (Photos: KOTRA)

Meanwhile, 2025 Expo Osaka is being held at Yumeshima, Osaka, Japan, for six months from April 13 until Oct. 13.

The Expo, taking place under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” is an global event with 158 countries around the world and international organizations participating.

In accordance with the theme “With Hearts,” Korea Pavilion not only introduces future industries, such as AI technology and hydrogen energy, but also it realizes sentimental space coexisting the past and present of Korea.

In his article contributed to a vernacular daily, KOTRA President Kang said “Korea Week” is taking place one month since the 2025 Expo Osaka was opened and the “Korea Excellent Products Exhibition”, being held in Osaka, is predicted to serve as an opportunity for Korean companies to enter the Japanese market.

Ten pan-government institutions host a combined 34 events, including export consultations sessions and hallyu/tourism and cultural events during the six-month Expo period, so the Expo will serve as a bridge of economic and industry cooperation beyond technology and cultural exchanges between the two countries, President Kang said.

As this year marks the 60th anniversary of normalizing Korean-Japanese diplomatic relations, it is expected to be a positive signal for discussing the direction of future cooperation.

“Korea-Japan Partnership Plus Week,” hosted by KOTRA in Tokyo recently, gave an insight into what industries will have synergetic effects to both countries.

It had hottest discussions on expanding investments in advance sectors, such as AI, semiconductor materials and secondary battery as well as cooperation in supply chains. An economic cooperation forum was filled with figures from Japanese side, President Kang said.