Sky72 "If Workers' Livelihoods Are Guaranteed for 3 Years, Business Transfer"

Proposal to Incheon Airport Corporation
Request to Resume Operations of Badakoseu Route During Succession Period

The Sky72 Golf Course, which has suspended operations at some facilities since last month due to court-enforced execution, issued a statement expressing its willingness to transfer business operations to a successor operator if the livelihoods of related workers are guaranteed for at least three years.

On the morning of the 17th of last month, a forced execution was carried out at the Sky72 Golf Course Sea Course in Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. Court officials are installing signs related to the forced execution at the golf course. Photo by Gonghang Photojournalists Group

On the 7th, Sky72 stated, "With the forced execution by Incheon International Airport Corporation leading to the suspension of operations at the Sea Course, approximately 1,100 tenants, caddies, and partner companies (including cleaning, security, facilities, lesson pros, and course regular employees) have lost their jobs," adding, "To support the livelihoods of thousands of related workers and their families, we proposed to Incheon International Airport Corporation the day before a business transfer conditioned on guaranteeing the same conditions for at least three years and resuming operations of the Sea Course."

Specifically, Sky72 said, "If the legal status of tenants, partner companies, caddies, and employees is guaranteed under the same or better conditions for at least three years, we will transfer the business to a successor operator," and added, "We intend to actively cooperate with the succession procedures for sports facility business status as stipulated in Article 27 of the Physical Education Facilities Act." Furthermore, they requested, "Until the business transfer and the related succession procedures for the sports facility business status are peacefully completed, we ask to immediately resume operations of the Sea Course to maintain the livelihoods of related workers and prevent damage to the golf course."

Sky72 emphasized, "This proposal prioritizes the livelihoods of tenants, partner companies, caddies, and regular employees," and stated, "If these two proposals are accepted, we will actively cooperate with the succession procedures." They also requested, "Please formalize in a business transfer contract or separate written document with Incheon International Airport Corporation a commitment to guarantee the succession and status of related workers under the same or better conditions for at least three years."

Previously, the Incheon District Court Enforcement Office completed the forced execution on the Sea Course (54 holes) within the Sky72 Golf Course on the 17th of last month. This was because Incheon International Airport Corporation won the final appeal in the 'real estate delivery lawsuit' against the existing golf course operator, Sky72 Co., Ltd., and the golf course land must be handed over to Incheon International Airport Corporation, which had not been fulfilled.

Sky72 leased land owned by Incheon International Airport Corporation, the planned site for the 5th runway at Incheon Airport, in 2005 to build and operate a golf course and clubhouse. The contract termination date between Incheon International Airport Corporation and Sky72 was set as December 31, 2020, when the 5th runway was to be constructed, but as the runway construction was delayed, a legal dispute lasted over two years. In September 2020, Incheon International Airport Corporation held a public bidding to select a new golf course operator, and KMH Shilla Leisure (now KX Group) was chosen as the new operator.

Sky72 claimed, "Incheon International Airport Corporation has not filed a separate lawsuit against tenants, so there is no enforcement authority," and argued, "Even if additional forced executions occur or Incheon City cancels registration, disputes with tenants will not be resolved, making it impossible for the successor operator to conduct normal business." They added, "To peacefully resolve the dispute, we proposed alternatives that align with the interests of all stakeholders to Incheon International Airport Corporation and actively requested mediation from Incheon City, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism," concluding, "We hope that no further extreme confrontations or physical conflicts occur and that the dispute is amicably resolved through business transfer and succession of sports facility business status."