Kangwon Land held its New Year ceremony on January 2 at the High1 Grand Hotel convention hall, where acting chief executive Choi Cheol-gyu set casino regulatory reform as the company's top task for 20261. Choi, who holds the title of acting chief executive officer, named three core tasks in his New Year address1.
He said the priority is regulatory reform, tied to the first phase of the K-HIT (High1 Integrated Tourism) master plan, which he said is now moving into full swing1. He described the reorganization of the regulatory system to fit global standards as the key issue1.
"베팅 한도 조정, 머신과 테이블 수 등 카지노 영업 환경부터 시간 총량제 도입, 외국인 및 회원영업장과 같은 운영정책까지 선결해야 할 과제들을 매듭지어야 한다"
That list covers the following items1:
- betting limit adjustments
- the number of machines and tables
- the casino operating environment
- the introduction of a total time cap
- operating policies for foreigner-only and membership venues
Choi said these are tasks that must be settled first1.
The other two tasks were building a safety system aimed at zero serious accidents and pursuing sustainable development in regions transitioning away from the coal industry, which he said should not miss its golden time1. He framed 2025 as the year Kangwon Land set a 100-year vision and 2026 as the year to turn that vision into results1.
No specific figures, timelines or legislative steps for the regulatory changes were given in the announcement, and no date has been reported for when any reform would take effect1.
What it means for players
Kangwon Land is South Korea's only casino open to Korean nationals, alongside foreigner-only venues in the country1. The items Choi listed touch directly on how the casino floor operates: betting limits, the number of machines and tables, a total time cap on play, and how foreigner-only and membership areas are run1. All of these were described as tasks still to be settled, not as changes already decided, so nothing about limits, machine counts, session time or venue access has changed as a result of the ceremony1. Players at Kangwon Land and at foreigner-only casinos in South Korea face the same rules as before until any reform is actually adopted1. For background on entry rules and what is available inside Korean casinos, see Can I Gamble in South Korea? and Casinos and Integrated Resorts in Asia.
What happens next
The announcement set no deadlines. Choi said the tasks must be concluded, and that 2026 should be made the first year of casino regulatory reform, but the report gives no schedule, no draft legislation and no date for a decision1.
Kangwon Land's presidency has been vacant for a second year, with residents calling for an appointment, according to a separate report1.
Sources1 sources
- 강원랜드 "올해는 비전 실행의 해"…카지노 규제 개혁 등 추진 | 연합뉴스, yna.co.kr
