Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Integrated resorts eyed as pillar for Korea's future tourism growth
Vice Culture Minister Kim Dae-hyun delivers a congratulatory speech during The Korea Times Global Business Club in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Lee Hae-rin
Vice Culture Minister Kim Dae-hyun highlighted the integrated resort (IR) industry as a pillar of Korea's future tourism growth, Friday.
"With the surging global influence of K-culture and rising foreign interest in Korea, integrated resorts will serve as a future growth engines and key pillars in achieving our goal of surpassing 30 million annual inbound tourists," Kim said during a congratulatory speech at The Korea Times Global Business Club, referring to the government’s 2030 goal.
Kim opened the event by highlighting the explosive growth of Asia’s integrated resort industry, citing Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and an ongoing development project in Osaka, Japan, as exemplary cases of models driving national economies.
He emphasized Korea’s ongoing proactive efforts, such as easing regulations for the Inspire Integrated Resort and Kangwon Land's K-HIT project, to attract investment and strengthen competitiveness.
Seo Won-suk, a professor at Kyung Hee University and president of the KOSOK, highlighted that Korea’s tourism industry must shift from quantitative growth to qualitative advancement.
"The IR industry represents a high-value fusion of tourism, culture, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) and entertainment," he said. "Korea must respond to intensifying regional competition by strengthening institutional foundations, driving innovation and fostering coexistence with local communities."
Kim Hyun-ki, director of the management division at Grand Korea Leisure, echoed that sentiment.
"Korean casinos and IRs will face growing challenges from abroad," he said, "but securing our own competitiveness in this domain is the most critical task ahead," adding that he hoped the forum would serve as a "modest yet meaningful starting point" for building strategies that enhance the nation's standing in the international tourism and entertainment sector.