Actor reveals 19 bil. won investment in amusement park
Actor Im Chae-moo at Doori Land amusement park in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province. Yonhap
By Lee Gyu-lee
Actor Im Chae-moo revealed he had spent more than 19 billion won ($15.5 million) in running his amusement park Doori Land for over 30 years.
During Monday's episode of “Park Myung-soo's Radio Show,” the actor, 70, talked about the reopening of the park last month after closing in 2017 due to management difficulties.
“Frankly speaking, I invested about 18 billion to 19 billion won … of which about 14 billion to 15 billion won is the bank loan,” he said.
Asked the reasons for making such a big investment, he said, “I built Doori Land not to make money but to enjoy my life. When I see people having fun, I feel happy and rejuvenated.”
The actor built the park in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, in 1990 out of his pocket and opened it to the public for free until 2017.
“From my experience, we don't need that much money to live,” he said. “The richest would be someone who feels fulfilled with what he or she already has. In that sense, I feel prosperous because I've been loved by so many people as a celebrity.”
The park was renovated before reopening to expand into an indoor and outdoor recreation complex. Since the reopening, the actor has charged admission.
The actor debuted in 1973 and has played supporting or lead roles in various TV dramas and films, including the 2011 drama “A Thousand Days' Promise.”