Gubongsan Tourism Complex in Gwangyang to Accelerate Licensing Process

Six-Month Reduction in Mountain Area Consultation Procedures at Economic Ministers' Meeting

Gwangyang City in Jeollanam-do announced on the 20th that the approval process for the "Gwangyang Gubongsan Tourism Complex Development Project" will be further expedited thanks to the shortening of the Korea Forest Service's mountain area consultation procedures.

The shortening of the mountain area consultation process, which Gwangyang City submitted to the Ministry of Economy and Finance as a policy improvement task to promote local private investment, was adopted and finalized in the "Corporate and Regional Investment Promotion Measures" announced at the government’s Economic Ministers’ Meeting and Investment Promotion Ministers’ Meeting on the 18th.

Aerial view of Gubongsan Tourist Complex in Gwangyang. Provided by Gwangyang City.

The main point of shortening the mountain area consultation procedure is the simplification of the Central Mountain Area Management Committee’s review process within the administrative procedures for the Gwangyang Gubongsan Tourism Complex Development Project. The review for changes to conservation mountain areas due to changes in land use zones and districts will be exempted, and the designation of the tourism complex and approval of the development plan will be reviewed simultaneously. As a result, the mountain area consultation process can be shortened by approximately six months.

To obtain "designation of the tourism complex and approval of the development plan" from the Governor of Jeollanam-do, Gwangyang City submitted an application in June 2023. The city has completed the preliminary consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as the environmental impact assessment by the Yeongsangang River Basin Environmental Office, and is currently undergoing the process for changes to the Gwangyang Urban Management Plan for land use zone and district changes.

Gwangyang City expects that the confirmation of the shortened mountain area consultation period will give further momentum to the approval process. Once the Korea Forest Service’s mountain area consultation is completed, the city plans to obtain final approval by August 2025 after the district unit plan decision and public interest consultation with the Central Land Expropriation Committee.

Meanwhile, the Gubongsan Tourism Complex Development Project began in 2017 as part of a regional cooperation project submitted to Gwangyang City at the time of the opening of "LF Square." In 2019, LF Networks Co., Ltd. proposed the project and established LF Resort Co., Ltd., a 100% subsidiary and local corporation, to oversee the project.

A total investment of 370 billion KRW will be made by 2029, with plans for a complex leisure tourism facility on a 2,324,486 square meter site at 107 Hwanggeum-dong, Gwangyang City. The development will include tourism experience facilities, 230 resort accommodation rooms, and a 27-hole golf course.

Kim Seongsu, Director of Tourism, said, "The adoption of this agenda at the Economic Ministers’ Meeting is a significant achievement accomplished through the cooperation between Gwangyang City and LF Resort Co., Ltd. for the successful promotion of the Gubongsan Tourism Complex. We will further strengthen our cooperative system to complete the approval procedures as quickly as possible and do our utmost to create the best tourism complex that will satisfy both local residents and tourists."