Controversy Continues Despite Completion of 'Legoland'... A Mountain of Unresolved Issues

'Unfair Contracts, Waste of Public Funds, Destruction of Heritage'... Opposition to Opening Remains Strong
Gangwon Province, "Attracting 1.5 to 2 Million Tourists Annually, 590 Billion Won Economic Impact"
Civic Coalition, "Legoland is Chuncheon’s Shame, Only Produces Irregular Workers"

Chuncheon Legoland [Chuncheon-si]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Legoland Chuncheon, which had been adrift for over 11 years, was completed on the 26th.

Legoland Korea Resort announced, "It will officially open on Children's Day, May 5th."

Legoland is built on a 280,000㎡ site on Hajungdo, featuring a hotel, seven clusters (zones), more than 40 rides, and 15,000 Lego models made from Lego bricks.

Of the 260 billion KRW theme park project cost, Merlin invested 180 billion KRW and GJC invested 80 billion KRW. Legoland Korea Resort expressed confidence in attracting over 1.5 million visitors annually.

Kim Young-gil, president of Legoland Korea Resort, said, "Our goal is a theme park visited by 3 million people annually, but we will start with about 1.5 million visitors this year and gradually increase."

Nick Varney, CEO of Merlin Entertainment, the UK-based operator of Legoland Korea Resort, said, "As a global theme park, Legoland will strive to bring joy and happiness to children and families and grow together with the local community."

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province, who jointly promoted the Legoland project, proudly stated, "Gangwon tourism will open a new horizon never experienced before."

Gangwon Province expects over 2 million visitors annually, generating a production inducement effect of 590.9 billion KRW and creating 8,938 direct and indirect jobs per year.

On the 26th, Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province, delivered a congratulatory speech at the completion ceremony of Legoland Korea Resort. [Yonhap News]

However, controversies surrounding Legoland, such as unfair contracts, waste of public funds, and destruction of historic sites, continue.

The Jungdo Cultural Solidarity and the Legoland Citizens' Countermeasure Committee held a press conference on the same day, stating, "Legoland is a shame for Chuncheon, and beneath Legoland, the destroyed Jungdo prehistoric site is crying," adding, "Even now, 11 years after the groundbreaking, the completion ceremony is marred by various issues including destruction of the Jungdo prehistoric site, waste of public funds, unfair contracts, and allegations of special favors."

They directly refuted the employment creation and visitor attraction promotions confidently presented by Gangwon Province and Legoland Resort.

The Jungdo Cultural Solidarity and the Countermeasure Committee claimed, "Gangwon Province promoted employment effects such as 9,000 jobs while destroying the precious Jungdo land, but as of March, only 93 out of 161 regular employees are from Gangwon Province."

They continued, "It only produced irregular workers with provincial taxpayers' money, and if the theme park's annual sales do not reach 40 billion KRW, no operating profit will be received. Moreover, they failed to devise any traffic measures, and the only solution offered is limiting the number of visitors, which is pathetic."

Yoo Jin-gyu, head of Jungdo Cultural Solidarity, also raised his voice at the anti-opening protest, saying, "The Jungdo land destroyed by Legoland is a treasure trove of Korean Peninsula history with numerous relics concentrated since the Neolithic era," and "A plastic toy play facility should not be built on our Jungdo."

Opposition Protest Against Legoland Opening [Citizens' Countermeasure Committee]

In particular, negative views and suspicions that it is difficult to see this as a successful foreign investment attraction due to fairness issues regarding compensation for damages remain unresolved and are spreading.

Concerns about the unfairness of the 'Legoland Korea Master Development Agreement (MDA)' have been raised among civic groups in Gangwon Province, opposition parties, and even Gangwon Provincial Office employees.

The 'Legoland Korea Development Project Gangwon Province Rights and Obligations Change Agreement (hereinafter the Agreement)' was passed by the Gangwon Provincial Council in December 2018 with the support of the Democratic Party, which held the majority of seats.

The Agreement included amendments transferring implementation rights to UK Merlin, which decided to increase investment under the MDA, and changes to Gangwon Province's rights.

According to a review report prepared by a specialist of the Gangwon Provincial Council's Economic Construction Committee at the time, if the Master Development Agreement is violated, internal approval procedures are not followed, or other reasons cause the agreement to lose effect or not be fulfilled as agreed, Merlin and Legoland Korea, which are entrusted with agency work, must compensate for damages incurred.

On the other hand, if Merlin and Legoland Korea fail to fulfill the project as per the agreement, GJC (Gangwon Jungdo Development Corporation), where Gangwon Province is the largest shareholder, is obligated to compensate only up to the 80 billion KRW it invested in the theme park.

Although the amount Merlin and Legoland Korea must compensate Gangwon Province and GJC is limited, the compensation amount in the opposite case could be excessively high, potentially disadvantaging Gangwon Province.

On the 26th, Nick Barney, CEO of Merlin Entertainment, is answering questions from the press at the media briefing for the completion ceremony of Legoland Korea Resort. Photo by Yonhap News.

Furthermore, there are concerns that having only one bridge as the entrance will inevitably cause traffic congestion when tourists flock, which is a problem that needs to be resolved.

Legoland can accommodate up to 15,000 visitors per day, but due to insufficient traffic measures, the number of daily visitors will be limited to about 12,000 to 13,000 even after the official opening.

There is also controversy over special favors regarding a free trial event for 1,000 Gangwon Provincial Office employees and their families from June 1 to 3, ahead of Legoland's official opening on May 5.

The National Public Officials Labor Union Gangwon Branch criticized, "Conducting a free trial focusing on facility operation and traffic measures exclusively for provincial office employees and their families is a clear special favor."

The Gangwon Peace Economy Research Institute also pointed out, "During the same period, the general public must purchase the limited edition annual pass 'First to Play Pass' for 149,000 KRW per person to participate in the trial," calling it a "'special favor' and 'privilege' event for provincial office employees only."

In response, Gangwon Province explained, "To secure voluntary participants willing to endure various inconveniences during the pilot operation period, we requested participation from about 30 partner companies, the provincial office, fire department, police, and military units, and it was not selected exclusively for a specific institution."

Meanwhile, Legoland Korea Resort's ticket prices are set at 60,000 KRW for adults and 50,000 KRW for children (ages 6 to 12).

Compared to Everland, which is five times larger in area at 1,488,000㎡, with ticket prices of 58,000 KRW for adults and 46,000 KRW for children (based on variable pricing type A full-day pass), Legoland's prices are relatively expensive.

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