Golf Course Operator Proposes to Incheon Airport Corporation
Requests Resumption of Bada Course Operations During Succession Period
Corporation Expresses Regret and Refusal
Sky72 Golf Course, which halted operations at some facilities last month due to court-enforced eviction, issued a statement saying it would transfer business operations to a successor operator on the condition that the livelihoods of related workers are guaranteed for at least three years. In response, Incheon International Airport Corporation, the owner of the golf course land, took a confrontational stance, demanding an 'unconditional withdrawal.'
On the morning of the 17th of last month, a forced execution was carried out at Sky72 Golf Course in Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. Court officials are installing a notice regarding the forced execution at the golf course. Photo by Gonghang Photojournalists Group
On the 7th, Sky72 stated, "Due to the forced eviction by Incheon Airport Corporation, operations of the Sea Course have been suspended, causing over 1,100 tenants, caddies, and partner companies (including cleaning, security, facilities, lesson pros, and course full-time staff) to lose their jobs," adding, "To support the livelihoods of thousands of related workers and their families, we proposed to Incheon Airport Corporation the day before to guarantee the same conditions for at least three years and to resume operations of the Sea Course as conditions for transferring the business."
Specifically, they said, "If the legal status of related workers is guaranteed at the same or better conditions for at least three years, we will transfer the business to a successor operator," and added, "We request that the Sea Course operations be resumed immediately to maintain the livelihoods of related workers and prevent damage to the golf course until the business transfer and the succession of the sports facility business status are peacefully completed." They also demanded that this guarantee be formalized in a business transfer contract or separate written document.
Incheon Airport Corporation immediately expressed regret in a statement and effectively rejected Sky72's proposal. The corporation emphasized, "Requesting the resumption of operations of the Sea Course, which has already undergone forced eviction, under the pretext of maintaining workers' livelihoods has neither justification nor practical benefit," and stressed, "Only Sky72's unconditional withdrawal is the starting point for resolving the issue."
They continued, "The successor operator is currently preparing practical solutions, including agreements with small business operators," and said, "The corporation will also fully support the stable operation of tenants and the succession of employee employment promised by the successor operator."
On the morning of the 17th of last month, a forced eviction was carried out at Sky72 Golf Course in Unseo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. Court enforcement officials are entering the golf course. Photo by Gonghang Photojournalists Group
Earlier, on the 17th of last month, the Incheon District Court Enforcement Office completed the forced eviction of the Sea Course (54 holes) within Sky72 Golf Course. This was because Incheon Airport Corporation won the final appeal in the 'real estate delivery lawsuit' against Sky72 Co., Ltd., the existing golf course operator, requiring the golf course land to be handed over to Incheon Airport Corporation, which had not been fulfilled. During the forced eviction, employees of service companies representing facility tenants reacted violently by spraying fire extinguishers and shouting insults and loud voices.
Sky72 leased land owned by Incheon Airport Corporation, the planned site for Incheon Airport's 5th runway, in 2005 to build and operate a golf course and clubhouse. The contract termination date between Incheon 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 Airport Corporation held a public bid to select a new golf course operator, and KMH Shilla Leisure (now KX Group) was chosen as the new operator.
The corporation criticized, "After the land use period expired, Sky72 claimed baseless reimbursement for beneficial expenses (costs invested in facilities while leasing the golf course land) and rights to purchase structures (buying newly built facilities at a considerable price) for over two years," adding, "Even after the Supreme Court's final ruling confirming the corporation's victory, they unlawfully occupied the golf course facilities and gained unjust profits."
Meanwhile, on the same day, Incheon Metropolitan City sent a prior notice to Sky72 to cancel its sports facility business registration and plans to proceed with hearings and other procedures related to the cancellation after hearing the operator's opinion by the 20th of this month. Typically, it takes about 30 to 40 days from the prior notice to the cancellation of sports facility registration.
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