Saemangeum Development Corporation Proposes 3,600-Room Integrated Resort and Foreigner-Only Casino Within KRW22.2 Trillion Northeast Asia Economic Hub

South Korea’s Saemangeum Development Corporation (SCDO) is seeking to incorporate an integrated resort with 3,600 hotel rooms and a foreigner-only casino into its 409-square-kilometer land reclamation project on the Yellow Sea coast.

According to Inside Asian Gaming, which cited local publication Chosun Biz, SCDO President Na Gyeong-gyun said the project “must have an anchor facility to spur tourism demand and investment.” Na indicated the group was in talks with foreign investors and large domestic corporations for shopping, MICE facilities and a potential casino.

Whether locals could access the casino, Na noted, “National consensus is needed, and it takes considerable time to push forward. The goal is not a casino itself but to build an integrated resort.”

The Saemangeum Project encompasses 291 square kilometers of reclaimed land, a 118 square kilometer lake and a new port outside the world’s longest sea wall running from Gunsan to Buan. Total budget stands at KRW22.2 trillion (US$15.72 billion), with KRW10.9 trillion (US$7.72 billion) from the central government, KRW900 million (US$637,250) from local government and KRW10.3 trillion (US$7.29 billion) from private investment.

A Leisure-Tourism Area of 36.8 square kilometers makes up 12.7% of the project. Under the project act, foreign investors committing US$500 million or more in tourism projects may receive a license for a foreigner-only casino, subject to approval from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Na said foreign companies are showing interest while the SCDO remains in contact with a domestic corporation planning the 3,600-room resort. No names, amounts or timelines were disclosed.

Scale and Strategic Positioning of the Saemangeum Hub

The initiative ranks as the nation’s largest land reclamation effort. The new land equals two-thirds the size of Seoul and four times the size of Paris. Planners position it as a comprehensive economic hub for Northeast Asia focused on industry, business and tourism.

Regulatory Barriers and Forward Path for Investors

National consensus and legal revisions remain prerequisites for any local casino access, injecting both delay and uncertainty into planning. Ministerial approval adds further regulatory steps. Without disclosed timelines or partners, operators and investors lack concrete milestones to model returns or commitment levels. Progress will hinge on measurable shifts in public sentiment and policy alignment that could expand the project’s tourism mandate beyond foreign-only restrictions.

Reporting: Inside Asian Gaming

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