Kangwon Land, the only casino in Korea that admits local residents1, presented the K-HIT (High1 Integrated Tourism) Master Plan at a briefing at High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, on Nov. 201. Acting CEO Choi Cheol-kyoo outlined a 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) vision through 20351.
- The plan targets 13.2 million annual visitors and 3.6 trillion won in yearly revenue1
- The Grand Core Zone is set to receive 71 percent of total investment1
- The M650 culture park is slated to open in June next year1
The plan targets 13.2 million annual visitors and 3.6 trillion won in yearly revenue1. The Grand Core Zone is set to receive 71 percent of total investment1. Its centerpiece, the Grand Dome, is described as a 300-meter-long, 100-meter-wide and 80-meter-tall pillarless indoor space that would unify previously scattered facilities1. Inside, the company says guests will find a media tower, indoor gardens, musical fountains, a multipurpose arena, a K-culture studio and theme park, and a new Grand Casino1.
Choi framed the upgrade as a response to competition from Japan's MGM Osaka, an integrated resort that will open in 20301. He said Korean casino patrons and tourists could begin heading abroad without proactive adaptation and improved government support1.
"Facilities will be tightly concentrated and interconnected, reinforcing the entertainment experience regardless of the season."
Kangwon Land was established at the shuttered Sabuk coal mine and has operated since its founding in 19981. The M650 culture park, built at the restored Dongwon Coal Mine at 650 meters elevation, is slated to open in June next year1. High1 Ski Resort will open its season a week earlier this year, on Friday, with the beginner-friendly Athena 3 III-1 slope and a sledding hill at Mountain Ski House, and further expansion will see all 15 slopes operating1.
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total investment | 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) |
| Timeframe | Through 2035 |
| Target annual visitors | 13.2 million |
| Target annual revenue | 3.6 trillion won |
| Grand Core Zone share of investment | 71 percent |
| Grand Dome dimensions | 300 meters long, 100 meters wide, 80 meters tall |
What it means for players
Kangwon Land is the only casino in Korea that admits local residents1, so any change to its casino floor touches Korean nationals directly, not just foreign visitors. The plan names a new Grand Casino inside the Grand Dome1, but the source does not report its size, table or machine count, opening date, or whether entry rules and admission limits for Korean residents would change. Those details have not been reported.
The wider resort build is aimed at drawing 13.2 million annual visitors by 20351, which would put the casino inside a larger leisure, wellness and ski complex rather than a standalone gaming floor. For visitors, the practical near-term change is winter access: the ski season opens a week earlier this year, on Friday1. The Grand Dome and the new casino sit inside a vision running through 2035, and no construction or opening schedule for them has been reported.
What happens next
The M650 culture park is slated to open in June next year1. High1 Ski Resort opens its season on Friday1. The Grand Dome and the new Grand Casino fall within the plan's 2035 horizon, and no specific dates for either have been reported1.
Gambling in South Korea, including which venues admit locals, is set out in our guide to gambling in South Korea, and the wider regional picture is covered in casinos and integrated resorts in Asia.
