Shanghai World Expo expected to bring in 70 million visitors: official

SEOUL, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming Shanghai World Expo is expected to bring in an estimated 70 million visitors, of which more than 5 percent are foreigners, Chen Xianjin, deputy director general of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination told a press briefing in Seoul Monday, local media reported.

"We expect to draw about 70 million visitors for the Shanghai World Expo, and more than 5 percent of them will be foreigners," Chen said, adding he expected some 500,000 people from South Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"I believe the South Korean pavilion will be one of the most popular ones at the fair," Chen added, saying the country's corporate pavilion will leave a deep impression on Chinese visitors.

South Korea said it plans to set up two pavilions during the international fair, which is scheduled to run from May 1 to Oct. 31, where the country's high-end technology and deep-rooted cultural heritage will be on full-display.

The national pavilion will have a floor space of 7,683 sq. meters, which cost the South Korean government 38.2 billion won ( 33.7 million U.S. dollars) to build, while the country's corporate pavilion that cost 29.9 billion won (26.4 million U.S. dollars) will be built over 4,012 sq. meters, housing 12 local companies including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor, LG, SK, and POSCO.