South Korea Dusts Off the Idea of Regional Casinos

The Bareunmirae Party – a minority political party in North Jeolla province in South Korea, considered a centre-rightist party in its political outlook – has re-proposed the idea of casino development on the coast for attracting more tourists and stimulating economic growth.

“Building a casino will become a turning point for growth in North Jeolla province,” the political grouping was quoted as saying.

A marine reclamation zone known as Saemangeum, at the mouth of a river estuary that is managed by a dam, is identified as the venue for the project.

Reportedly the trigger for the Bareunmirae Party’s statement was an announcement that the country’s Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was to designate the Saemangeum area as a special zone for marine leisure and tourism.

Korea Bizwire said an organisation called Korean Federation for Environmental Movements subsequently issued a statement accusing the Barunmirae Party of “distorting the facts to make it seem like the government is actually planning to build a casino in the Saemangeum area to boost marine tourism.”

South Korea at present has 17 casinos. But locals are allowed in only one of them– run by Kangwon Land Inc. Its venue, Kangwon Land, is located in a remote upland area of Kangwon province.