Yeosu sends taxi firms official letter warning drivers to stop spreading 'rumors' about island expo

The city of Yeosu in South Jeolla Province has drawn criticism after sending an official letter to local taxi companies urging drivers to stop spreading false rumors and negative talk about the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo.

The move is the latest in a string of missteps, coming amid a simmering controversy over the expo's quality — including backlash over a 14,900-won ($11) soy-sauce crab dish and a performance featuring a truck-mounted geomungo boat-song show.

According to the city and other sources Tuesday, Yeosu recently sent taxi operators a formal document titled "Request for education (guidance) on prohibiting taxi drivers from spreading rumors related to the 2026 Yeosu World Islands Expo."

In the letter, the city said there were public reports that drivers were spreading rumors about inadequate expo preparations. It added that it believed "drivers' dissatisfaction over reduced income likely manifested as the spreading of rumors."

The city went on to say it had compared per-driver income figures over the nine-day period spanning the first and second weekends of September last year and this year.

While the data showed no actual decline in income, the city's apparent view is that drivers who had expected a windfall from the expo — and did not see one — were venting their frustration by spreading malicious rumors.

The city asked taxi companies to educate their drivers to stop spreading rumors and instead promote the expo's goals and purpose, saying driver income would rise if the expo succeeded.

Taxi drivers have pushed back, saying they are being unfairly branded as rumor-mongers.

The Yeosu World Islands Expo runs through Nov. 4 at the Jinmo district in Dolsan, Yeosu. Organizers are targeting 3 million visitors, but only about 180,000 people attended in the two weeks since the opening.