660,000 Sign National Petition... Full Review of Korea-China Cultural Town Development Amid 'Chinatown' Controversy

Kolon Global's Statement
"Pure Theme Tourism Complex... Recognition of Impossibility to Proceed with Project"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] The 'Korea-China Cultural Town' development project in Gangwon Province, which sparked controversy after receiving support from over 660,000 people on the Blue House National Petition, will be thoroughly reconsidered.

Gangwon Province announced on the 26th that Kolon Global, the project operator, has conveyed its intention to conduct a full review of the project.

Kolon Global emphasized in a statement, "This project is definitely not a 'Chinatown' development as a collective residential facility," adding, "It is composed purely as a themed tourism complex based on traditional and modern cultural elements of Korea and China," clarifying that it is not a Chinatown development project.

They continued, "Regardless of the objectivity of the facts, we cannot ignore the feelings of the more than 650,000 citizens who participated in the national petition," and added, "We recognize that the Korea-China Cultural Town project can no longer proceed."

Furthermore, they explained, "Even if it means bearing significant losses in terms of time and costs invested so far, we will conduct a full review of the project plan," and "We will also initiate consultation procedures soon with related organizations that have sympathized with the purpose of the project and have been collaborating on the project for a long time."

The Korea-China Cultural Town was conceived as part of a project to develop a 1.2 million square meter site in Jeonchigok-ri, Bukbang-myeon, Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province. Kolon Global planned to attract Chinese tourists by creating various themed spaces such as media art, a Hallyu video theme park, a traditional Chinese garden, and a Chinese food zone in the area, but controversy arose as some claimed it was a 'Chinatown.'

In this regard, a petition titled "Please withdraw the construction of Chinatown in Gangwon Province" was posted on the Blue House National Petition board on the 29th of last month and has since garnered support from over 662,000 people as of today.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.