Boryeong City Insists on Proceeding with Daemyung for Wonsando Tourism Complex, While Daemyung Considers Project Review

Mayor Kim Dongil's Remarks Spark Controversy over Potential New Developer
Says "There Is a Company Interested" at Press Briefing with Journalists

Kim Dongil, mayor of Boryeong, is giving a greeting at a press conference on the 17th. Photo by Lee Byungryul in Boryeong.

A controversy is expected as Boryeong City and Sono International are showing different stances regarding whether to proceed with the Wonsando Daemyung Sono Resort tourism complex development project in Wonsando, Boryeong, Chungnam.

In particular, suspicions have been raised that Mayor Kim Dongil, by stating at a press conference with journalists that "there is a company that wants to do it," may be searching for another company, considering the possibility that Daemyung might abandon the project.

On the 17th, at a press conference with journalists held at the Old Downtown Community Center, Mayor Kim said, "Recently, I met with a Daemyung official in my office, and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rising raw material costs, and sluggish condo sales in the southern region, they have applied to Chungnam Province for a one-year postponement of the Wonsando project."

He added, "The airline company investment reported in the media is only as the second largest shareholder and does not involve a large amount of money, so they said they are definitely committed to pushing ahead with the Wonsando project."

He continued, "If Daemyung does not carry out this project, there are other companies interested in attractive projects such as artificial islands," and added, "However, Daemyung is not a small company and is engaged in leisure businesses, so I firmly believe they will proceed with the project."

Mayor Kim emphasized, "While we can consider reducing the scale of the Wonsando project, we have never thought about scrapping it entirely, and it is certain that the marine cable car is related to Daemyung," adding, "As one axis of the Oseom Island, it is attractive as a tourism business, and we are making efforts to make it possible to proceed together."

However, a Sono International official stated, "The project is currently under review, and nothing has been decided yet."

Meanwhile, the Daemyung Sono Resort tourism complex development project aims to create tourist accommodation and resort facilities such as hotels, resorts, pension complexes, and sports facilities on a 966,748 square meter site in the Wonsando area by 2029, with an investment of 760.4 billion won.