A large-scale international bio industry exposition opened in a central South Korean city on Friday to display state-of-the-art biotechnologies and to promote the city as a global mecca in the field.
Hosted by the government of North Chungcheong Province, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the local municipal government, the Osong International Bio Industry Exposition began its 17-day run after a brief opening ceremony in Osong, some 120 kilometers south of Seoul.
Under the theme of “The Secret of Life, Beautiful Future,” the expo will showcase how the nation’s bio industry has developed over the past decades and provide a glimpse into a future employing many of the industry’s finest innovations.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled to be held in the afternoon with hundreds of dignitaries from the central and provincial governments, lawmakers and other figures from all walks of life attending.
The ceremony will be followed by performances by popular Korean pop artists. Before the ceremony, there will be an air show and traditional Korean music and B-boy dance performances, according to the organizers.
Visitors will also experience diverse medical treatments with the latest technologies, such as the diagnosis of a disease with a drop of blood, and get information on life-threatening diseases.
Visitors will also have the chance to make cosmetics and conduct scientific experiments to learn basic knowledge about the life sciences, according to the organizer.
Among various outdoor exhibitions, large-scale model organs are to be on display, and several rides featuring human cells will allow visitors to learn about science in a unique way, according to the organizers.
A rare cloned puppy, “Donggyeong,” created by a veterinary professor at Seoul National University, Lee Byeong-cheon, and his team earlier this month will also be there to meet visitors.
Organizers say the expo will host 303 companies from in and outside of the country and some 700 buyers.
“We prepared diverse special events that will stimulate five senses of visitors,” said Lee Cha-yeong, secretary-general of the expo’s organizing committee. “The nation’s largest bio festival will unfold right before your eyes.”
