Gyeongnam Province: "Robot Land Will Become a Robot Mecca and Landmark"

Announcement of Measures to Normalize Activation and Development Projects

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] “Regardless of the court ruling on the payment upon termination of the Robot Land implementation agreement, we will newly promote the Robot Land development project.”

Gyeongnam Province announced a plan to revitalize the Gyeongnam Robot Land development project on the 12th.

On this day, the province revealed that it lost the appeal trial in the lawsuit claiming payment upon termination of the implementation agreement against Robot Land.

Regardless of whether to file a further appeal, they stated they will proceed with the development project to revitalize the first phase and normalize the second phase of the project.

According to the province, the Robot Land development project consists of the first phase, which includes the construction of a theme park, robot research center, and convention center, and the second phase, which involves the development of tourism accommodation facilities.

Since its opening in September 2019, the first phase has been operating normally but somewhat stagnant, and the second phase has been halted due to a lawsuit filed by the private operator Robot Land.

Ryu Myung-hyun, Director of the Industry and Trade Bureau of Gyeongnam Province, is presenting measures to revitalize the Gyeongnam Masan Robot Land development project.
[Photo by Lee Se-ryeong]

The province plans to first revitalize the first phase of the project.

In the Robot Theme Park, where the use of real robots is insufficient, 12 killer contents will be reinforced, and Hyundai and Kia autonomous vehicle testbeds, security and guide robots will be introduced.

Using five public halls?Future Robot Hall, Future Robot Hall, Service Robot Hall, Marine Robot Hall, and Robotopia?the edutainment function combining education and play will also be strengthened.

They also plan to focus on aftercare through discovering unique robot event performances, conducting quarterly surveys, and partnerships with telecom and card companies.

The Robot Research Center, which lacks a tenant management system, will focus on ▲establishing a virtuous cycle process through full-cycle evaluation ▲implementing a service robot joint platform project ▲attracting national research and development projects through collaboration with Technopark ▲strengthening testbed functions.

The Convention Center plans to increase its operating rate to 50% by 2025 through attracting small-scale conventions (unique venues), operating a conditional incentive system, and changing functions of small exhibition halls.

For the second phase, which will include tourism accommodation facilities such as hotels and condos, a new operator will be selected to get the project back on track.

A provincial official said, “Our goal is to achieve the break-even point of 680,000 visitors early in 2024,” adding, “We will carefully review to ensure the project does not fail again.”

He added, “We will do our best to promote the project so that Robot Land stands tall as Korea’s robot mecca and becomes a landmark of Gyeongnam.”