In 2012, Yeosu hosted a world expo themed "The Living Ocean and Coast." With sub-themes covering the diversity of resources and sustainable activity, the expo served as an opportunity to introduce Yeosu's identity as a maritime city to the world. A variety of exhibition halls and facilities were built on the expo grounds, but one structure in particular stands out: the Sky Tower.
The Sky Tower is a renovation of two abandoned cement silos originally built in the 1980s. Rather than demolishing the neglected industrial structures, the project connected the two silos to create an observation deck, and installed organ pipes on the exterior walls so that musical performances could be held in every season except winter. This attempt to transform an industrial-era relic into an artistic landmark is generally regarded as a success. Today, the Sky Tower stands right next to Yeosu Expo Station, the city's gateway, greeting visitors as one of the first things they see when they arrive. A piece of industrial infrastructure that was on the verge of being torn down instead became, through the expo, the face of the city.