Kangwon Land unveils 3 tril. won plan to build landmark integrated resort

Choi Cheol-kyoo, acting CEO of Kangwon Land, speaks during the K-HIT project vision presentation at High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Nov. 19. Courtesy of Kangwon Land

By Lee Hae-rin

• Published Nov 27, 2025 12:00 PM KST

Wellness, leisure, entertainment to transform Korea’s former mining resort by 2035

JEONGSEON, Gangwon Province — Kangwon Land, the only casino in Korea that admits local residents, is working to shift its identity as a redeveloped mining area toward a broader role as a hub for wellness, leisure and year-round tourism.

Originally established at the shuttered Sabuk coal mine near the Baekdu-daegan mountain range, Kangwon Land has become a model for regional revitalization since its founding in 1998. The company’s latest strategy, called the K-HIT (High1 Integrated Tourism) Master Plan, details a 3 trillion won ($2.3 billion) vision through 2035 to position the High1 Resort as both an entertainment landmark and a flagship destination for "healing" tourism.

At a briefing at High1 Resort in Jeongseon, Gangwon Province, Nov. 20, acting CEO Choi Cheol-kyoo outlined plans to attract 13.2 million annual visitors and generate 3.6 trillion won in yearly revenue by expanding entertainment, wellness and sports offerings — all while breathing fresh life into the former mining area.

Central to this effort is the Grand Core Zone, which is set to receive 71 percent of total investment. Its highlight, the Grand Dome — a 300-meter-long, 100-meter-wide and 80-meter-tall pillarless indoor space — will unify previously scattered facilities, creating Korea’s largest all-weather leisure complex. Inside, guests will find a media tower, indoor gardens, musical fountains, multipurpose arena, K-culture studio and theme park and a new Grand Casino, all packed under one roof.

"Facilities will be tightly concentrated and interconnected, reinforcing the entertainment experience regardless of the season," Choi told reporters. He positioned this bold upgrade as essential to holding ground against competition from Japan’s MGM Osaka, an integrated resort that will open in 2030, just a short flight from Korea. Without proactive adaptation and improved government support, Choi warned, Korean casino patrons and tourists could begin heading abroad.

Officials noted that High1 sits in an authentic mountain landscape shaped by the region’s coal mining heritage and featuring unspoiled wilderness, in contrast to Osaka’s planned resort on an artificial island. “Our strengths are local legacy, four-season sports and natural beauty,” Choi said, urging that Kangwon Land’s Korean-style integrated resort be recognized as a strategic national industry.

Winter programming puts the property’s mountain location on full display. High1 Ski Resort will unlock its season a week earlier this year, on Friday, debuting freshly groomed slopes, stable temperatures and manmade snow.

The Athena 3 III-1 slope — ideal for beginners — will be open alongside a sledding hill at Mountain Ski House, and further expansion will see all 15 slopes operating. Upgraded sleds and domed ice rinks conjure snow globe scenes, with new windbreaks ensuring warmth for young children.

For guests seeking tranquility, High1 is doubling down on wellness tourism. Located 1,100 meters above sea level, its center pairs an indoor Balance Care Zone for yoga, meditation and sound therapy with a scenic Nature Healing Zone in the forest.

Programs invite guests to reset their daily rhythms, breathe crisp highland air and soak in phytoncide-filled woodlands. Tarot card tea sessions and singing bowl relaxation classes are popular with younger visitors.

Outdoors, the upgraded forest zone offers herbal and aroma foot baths, guided treks, storytelling walks and stargazing night programs free from city light, helping guests to digitally detox and reconnect with nature through curated wellness experiences.

Kangwon Land continues to invest in cultural amenities as well. Unamjeong, a hanok-style bakery cafe, is now popular among variety show producers and social media photographers for its snow-dusted courtyards, herbal teas and locally sourced desserts. Evening stargazing through transparent domes and seasonal Korean afternoon tea sets add layers of luxury.

Kangwon Land also offers large indoor pools with a trio of water slides, massage pool and an acrylic glass-bottom pool offering escape from the elements, regardless of season.

Kangwon Land has committed to honoring its mining heritage via the M650 culture park, slated to open in June next year. Built at the restored Dongwon Coal Mine at 650 meters elevation, this site will serve as living museum and community platform, hosting exhibitions and performances to share the miners’ history and stories while providing new value for the community in the post-coal era.

Beyond the resort’s core, visitors can explore winter trekking routes like the Haneul-gil — part of Korea’s Untan Godo, Korea's one and only mountain trail located 1,100 meters above sea level.

The path passes historic sites such as Dorongi Pond, an ecological pond created by collapsed tunnels where miners’ wives would wish for their husbands’ safety, and the 1,177-meter Sabuk mine’s entrance. These restored landmarks, marked by miner statues, evoke the region’s industrial past.

"High1 has prepared a winter wonderland brimming with anticipation," Choi said. "This isn’t only about the growth of Kangwon Land — it’s about designing the next 100 years for the region and securing Korea’s global tourism competitiveness."