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Legoland Korea targeted by new Gangwon governor
Gangwon Province Governor-elect Kim Jin-tae, left, and Legoland Korea Divisional Director Phil Royle / Korea Times files
By Park Jae-hyuk
Former prosecutor vows to reveal truth behind controversial project
By Park Jae-hyuk
Controversies surrounding the Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon City have emerged as the main focus of Gangwon Province Governor-elect Kim Jin-tae, causing uncertainty around the operation of the Lego-themed amusement park by its British operator, Merlin Entertainments, according to civic groups and local media, Wednesday.
The governor-elect said in an interview with a local broadcaster, Tuesday, that it is necessary to look into the Legoland project.
“There is no reason for me to oppose a proposal from civic groups to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate controversies over the construction of Legoland,” he told Gangwon CBS.
For the past few years, civic groups in the province have been alleging that Governor Choi Moon-soon signed a suspicious agreement with Merlin offering an unfairly low rental price for the theme park site, while provincial assembly members failed to scrutinize the agreement sufficiently.
Kim, a former prosecutor who belongs to the ruling People Power Party, has repeatedly expressed his intention to reveal the truth behind the contract signed by the outgoing governor, who's a member of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
A week before the June 1 local elections, Kim replied to a letter from Kangwon Peace & Economy Institute (KEPI), saying that he supports the institute's proposal to set up an ad hoc committee to look into the matter.
His election contender, DPK candidate Lee Kwang-jae, did not respond to KEPI.
“The provincial government should thoroughly analyze the difference between the 2013 undertaking agreement and the 2018 master development agreement,” Kim said in his response last month. “It is also necessary to look into Gangwon Province's decision-making process regarding the right to operate Legoland's parking lot.”
He also emphasized that he would collaborate with provincial assembly members, civic groups and experts to uncover the facts.
In December 2020, Kim joined hands with civic groups to find out the reason behind the delayed opening of the amusement park.
“The Legoland project has suffered from snowballing debts,” he said at that time. “Even if the park opens, it will be difficult for the project to recover from the accumulated losses.”
Civic groups expect the governorship transition committee to deal with the issue later this month. The governor-elect launched his transition team, Tuesday, appointing former lawmaker Kim Ki-sun as its leader.
A Legoland Korea spokesperson was unavailable for comment.
Visitors crowd the entrance to Legoland Korea Resort in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, May 8. Yonhap
Ever since Merlin Entertainments and Gangwon Province agreed to build a theme park on Hajung Island in the Bukhan River in the early 2010s, there has been a lingering sense of controversy over the project. Civic groups have also claimed that it is illegal to open the theme park unless facilities are built to preserve ancient artifacts found in 2014 during construction at site.
Gangwon Province has been criticized, however, for its continued refusal to disclose details about its agreement with Merlin Entertainments.