1. Research Goals and Methods

■ Research Background and Goals

￮ Since the mid-2000s, integrated resorts (IRs) have emerged globally, featuring multiple facilities, such as hotels, convention centers, theme parks, and casinos. In Korea, IRs with enhanced entertainment functions are garnering considerable attention.

￮ IRs developed by leveraging K-culture, Korea’s unique cultural trend, have profound implications for their growth potential and success as regionally tailored tourism strategies.

￮ As a hub for international cultural tourism within a global life-economy city, Jeonbuk State demonstrates strong interest in K-culture, particularly K-pop, as evidenced by the establishment of an international K-pop school. However, specialized performance venues remain insufficient.

￮ While the Saemangeum area’s internal development is progressing, tourism and leisure zones are still behind industrial and agro-life zones. This underscores the necessity for comprehensive activation strategies with a mid- to long-term focus.

￮ Therefore, this study presents a strategic roadmap for developing a K-culture integrated entertainment park (“the Park”) in the Saemangeum area—a global integrated tourism hub built upon K-culture resources and focused on entertainment-oriented facilities.

■ Methodology and Scope

￮ This study focuses on the Saemangeum area, covering a conceptual review, case analysis, assessment of park development conditions, business model typology, and implementation strategy proposals.

￮ Additionally, this study employs literature reviews, case studies, expert surveys, and an economic feasibility analysis to identify development conditions and propose strategic roadmaps for the Park.

2. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations

■ Project Delivery Approach

￮ Securing project feasibility requires a mixed-use private investment approach anchored by an arena facility as a core K-culture function and supported by revenues generated from complementary facilities. Project success depends on strong strategies to attract foreign visitors and the offering of unique incentives, enabling early economies of scale.

■ Key Functional Framework of the Leading Model and Commercialization Directions

￮ Grounded in a business model comprising an arena (entertainment), an international school (education), and a hotel (stay) as core functions, this study proposes an arena-centered leading model that facilitates the formation of a circular demand ecosystem. It outlines strategic commercialization roadmaps to diversify key functional components. These include attracting anchor companies, improving revenue structures through demand linkages among core functions, developing flagship facilities—such as a casino—to generate stable revenues for early private investment, and expanding K-culture–related functions.

■ Characteristics of Mid- to Long-Term Business Models and Implementation Directions

￮ The “K-Wellness Integrated Entertainment Park Development” model aims to synergistically incorporate medical hemp to diversify revenue structures across K-medical tourism, the bio sector, and MICE activities.

￮ Meanwhile, the “Circular Ring Landmark Integrated Entertainment Park Development” model presents a strategy to develop a hub for contemporary culture and the arts, featuring symbolic architectural landmarks, including K-pop performance venues, located adjacent to a circular ring road that links the waterfront city with tourism and leisure zones in the Saemangeum area.

■ Policy Tasks Required to Enhance Project Feasibility

￮ This study identifies key policy tasks for effective project implementation, including the timely provision of global SOC infrastructure (such as an international airport); the strengthening of secondary transportation networks; the internationalization of K-culture education; the establishment of a global K-culture market; and the development of a K-culture creation and production ecosystem linked to cultural and industrial promotion zones. 

￮ The study emphasizes the need to reinforce incentive and institutional frameworks by implementing robust measures to attract large-scale investors, alongside proactive support systems to promote early investment and ensure stable long-term operations.

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