Long wait times frustrated visitors at the Yeosu Expo after the organizing committee hastily scrapped the exhibit booking system due to complaints.

Visitors had to wait for up to seven hours to see the aquarium on Monday, with lines extending as long as three kilometers.

Until Sunday noon, eight exhibition halls, including the aquarium, the Korea Pavilion and the Theme Pavilion, required reservations made through the Internet or kiosks at the expo site. The system was aimed at reducing wait times.

The Expo organizing committee, however, repealed the booking system after hundreds of angry visitors stormed into the committee office Sunday morning to complain, as all of the eight exhibition halls were fully booked for the day. A record 110,000 people visited the Expo on Sunday.

About 45,000 people entered the expo site on Monday, and most had to wait for at least three hours to see the popular pavilions.

People who had made reservations before the system was scrapped on Sunday were admitted within 10 minutes.

The wait time was previously under an hour when the reservation system was in place.

An official with the organizing committee said the impetuous decision made for a small minority put the majority at a disadvantage.

The committee could have kept the booking system and supplemented it with special considerations for people who find it hard to make reservations like the elderly, he said.

The committee said it will look for ways to raise spectators’ satisfaction.

By Kim So-hyun (sophie@heraldcorp.com)