Authorized by BIE, the WEM joined the Yeosu Expo 2012 as an official participant to carry out a series of promotion for the city of Shanghai in forms of exhibition shows, exhibit collections and academic researches. The WEM also promoted the national image of China by echoing with the events of the China Pavilion.
At the 2012 World Expo in Yeosu, the WEM hosted the brand new "BIE EXPO X EXPOS Exhibition Tour", which is not only the first independent pavilion of BIE in the history of World Expo, but also the debut for the World Expo Museum in the international arena. The exhibition aimed to popularize the knowledge and concept of World Expo and to further promote the Shanghai World Expo and the WEM, and to ultimately sustain a post-Expo positive impact. The well-received exhibition attracted 800,000 visitors within three months, accounting for the 1/10 of the total visitors. The pavilion also became one of the Top Ten Pavilions at Yeosu Expo. In addition, the WEM organized an international seminar entitled “Inheritance, Study and Usage of Expo Heritage” in the Expo Park. Moreover, the WEM also studied around 160 pavilions at Yeosu Expo and collected over 700 pieces of exhibits from some 40 participants.