Gyeonggi Province designates 2,854,708㎡ (approximately 860,000 pyeong) in Sinwoeri and Munhori areas of Namyang-eup, Hwaseong City (Songsan Green City Special Planning Zone 8) as the ‘Hwaseong International Theme Park Tourism Complex.’
Gyeonggi Province announced on the 30th that, after the recent approval by the provincial Urban Planning Committee and consultation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it will officially announce the designation of the ‘Hwaseong International Theme Park Tourism Complex’ on the last day of this year, the 31st.
Earlier, Hwaseong City applied to Gyeonggi Province in May to designate the Hwaseong International Theme Park as a tourism complex. A tourism complex can be designated by the mayor or governor if it meets the scale requirement of 500,000㎡ or more. Once designated as a tourism complex, the approval process for development plans and permits can be handled simultaneously, shortening the period, and various benefits such as a 50% reduction in acquisition tax will be provided.
Gyeonggi Province expects that this tourism complex designation will accelerate the project to create Asia’s largest theme park using the brand of the global entertainment company ‘Paramount.’
The Hwaseong International Theme Park, first promoted in 2007, is a project filled with the earnest wishes of the residents after the Universal Studios project was canceled. Shinsegae Hwaseong Co., Ltd. (Shinsegae Property + Shinsegae Construction) is investing 9.4 trillion KRW (100% private investment) in a large-scale project on the eastern site within Songsan Green City in Sinwoeri, Namyang-eup, Hwaseong City.
In October, Gyeonggi Province jointly announced with Hwaseong City and Paramount Entertainment that they will build Asia’s largest Paramount theme park at the Hwaseong International Theme Park. At that time, Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, expressed his intention to provide active support.
The Hwaseong International Theme Park will be developed as a complex tourism complex centered on global entertainment content, including a theme park, hotels, shopping malls, and golf courses. It is expected to generate a production inducement effect of 11.7175 trillion KRW during the development phase, 4.7144 trillion KRW during the operation phase, and create 49,000 jobs.
Gyeonggi Province anticipates that the Hwaseong International Theme Park will serve as a driving force for balanced development in the western region of Gyeonggi Province by attracting more than 20 million tourists annually. Once the tourism complex is completed, Hwaseong City will establish itself as a global tourist city and a new axis of South Korea’s tourism industry.
Kim Sang-su, Director of the Gyeonggi Province Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau, said, "The Hwaseong International Theme Park is a long-awaited project for both Gyeonggi residents and Hwaseong citizens," adding, "This tourism complex designation is an important first step toward the success of the project. Gyeonggi Province will actively support Hwaseong City to grow into a world-class tourist city."
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