Civic groups protest plan for domestic casino in Saemangeum

Environmental and civic groups in South Korea's North Jeolla Province have strongly criticized a proposal by provincial governor Lee Won-taek to build a resort with a casino accessible to domestic tourists in the Saemangeum development zone. Organizations like the Jeonbuk Environmental Movement Federation and the Citizens' Coalition for Participatory Self-Government of Jeonbuk issued statements on March 14, demanding the immediate withdrawal of the plan.

These groups argue that the proposal, even if packaged as a "complex resort," fundamentally promotes a gambling industry that could devastate local lives. They assert that Saemangeum's future should be centered on ecological restoration, eco-friendly industries, and the development of cutting-edge technologies, not on gambling. Citing the negative example of Kangwon Land, they warned that casinos lead to gambling addiction, family financial ruin, increased crime, and significant social costs. The groups expressed concern that approving a domestic casino in Saemangeum could prompt other tourist regions to seek similar legislation, potentially leading to a nationwide proliferation of casinos.

The critics also pointed out that the casino initiative could disrupt the current momentum of attracting major industries to Saemangeum, which is poised to become a hub for advanced manufacturing, including investments from Hyundai Motor Company. The Citizens' Coalition for Participatory Self-Government questioned whether the governor's pledge to attract 200 trillion won in investment was ultimately a plan to introduce a casino. They accused the governor of opting for the "easiest card" of the gambling industry instead of pursuing sustainable development strategies like attracting large corporations and fostering future industries, labeling casinos as a "parasitic industry" that erodes society rather than revitalizing the local economy.

Both groups dismissed Governor Lee's remarks suggesting that limiting access and betting amounts, and pointing to social problem mitigation in Gangwon Province, were overly lighthearted acknowledgments of the gambling industry's harms. Governor Lee had announced his intention on March 13 to propose legislation for a domestic casino resort, citing limitations in attracting long-term tourism and large-scale private investment with only foreign-only casinos.