The K-Culture Expo concluded its five-day run from May 22 to May 26 at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan. The event, which highlighted the roots and evolution of the globally expanding Korean Wave (Hallyu) and showcased the advanced new Korean Wave culture, was a resounding success. 

The opening ceremony featured a drone show with around 1,000 drones and a large-scale media facade utilizing the “Tower of Unity” as a screen displayed a blend of cutting-edge technology and Korean cultural industry. This spectacle effectively showed the purpose of the expo.

Reflecting on feedback from the first K-Culture Expo last year, which focused primarily on performances and was criticized for a lack of clear identity, this year's event enhanced its visual and exhibition segments. It introduced an industrial exhibition hall showcasing the growth and potential of Korean culture-infused industries, along with audience participation and educational entertainment or edutainment content. Highlights included the "Webtoon Hall," which provided a comprehensive view of the history and related industries of webtoons; the "Food Hall," where visitors could explore the evolution of K-Food, enjoy popup stores linked with companies, and the "Beauty Hall," offering makeup demonstrations and experiences. These features received high praise from attendees.

The expo not only promoted and offered experiences of current Korean culture, or 'Hallyu,' but also displayed Korea's past traditional culture, future-oriented advanced technologies, and industrial culture. It also aimed to introduce the unique culture of Cheonan. Various exhibitions and events, such as those by the Cheonan City Arts Company and young Cheonan artists, and cultural art performances in collaboration with local artists, were organized to promote Cheonan.

Building on the popularity of K-Food from the first K-Culture Expo, known for its reasonable prices and hygienic operations, this year's expo continued to offer delicious and affordable food. Iconic Korean foods such as hodogwaja or walnut cookies, gimbap, tteokbokki, and dakgangjeong or Korean sweet and spicy fried chicken were served, making the event enjoyable and relaxing for both domestic and international visitors.

A special “Hangeul Zone” themed around the Korean alphabets and scripts provided an experiential program where visitors could reflect on the history and future of K-Culture.

Foreign tourists who attended the festival rediscovered the roots of Hallyu and the contemporary industrial culture it has fostered. They also enjoyed various Korean foods, K-POP, and performances.

With 312,000 visitors over five days, Cheonan took a significant leap forward through a cultural industry expo. The city plans to enhance and expand the event for the "2025 Asia Culture Expo" with a goal of attracting 900,000 visitors, and the "2026 World Cultural Industry K-Culture Expo" aiming for 2 million visitors. These future events will highlight various aspects of the K-Culture industry, including e-sports, film, and fashion.

Cheonan City Mayor Park Sang-don stated, “This K-Culture Expo was designed to allow people of all ages to fully experience high-quality K-Culture content reflecting new trends of all genres. We will continue to develop the uniqueness and value of the K-Culture Expo to lead Cheonan and South Korea into the future and to spearhead K-Culture.”