Legoland, Gangwon Province Clash Over KRW 13 Billion Claim
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province is moving to spend KRW 41 billion in public funds to preserve cultural heritage excavated during the development of Legoland, while Legoland has separately sought compensation of about KRW 13 billion for losses it claims to have incurred during the project. Th
The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province is set to allocate KRW 41 billion in public funds to safeguard cultural heritage unearthed during the construction of Legoland, while the theme park operator Legoland is concurrently requesting reimbursement of around KRW 13 billion for losses it asserts it incurred throughout the undertaking.
These developments have reignited debates surrounding the financial repercussions and accountability associated with the contentious project. The province is in the process of constructing a museum and archaeological park, aimed at preserving and showcasing artifacts and remains discovered on Jungdo Island, the site where the Legoland development took place.
The project is presently under review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety for central investment approval. The museum was stipulated as a condition in the initial authorization of the Legoland development. In 2017, the Cultural Heritage Administration mandated the preservation and maintenance of excavated cultural artifacts as a prerequisite for the project's approval.
Initially, the plan was for Jungdo Development Corp. (GJC) to fund the facilities through the sale of land on Jungdo Island. However, the project faced a setback when land sales did not materialize as intended, ultimately placing the responsibility on Gangwon Province. This financial dispute has been further exacerbated by Legoland's compensation claim.
Reports indicate that Legoland has been pursuing compensation from GJC and Gangwon Province for several years, alleging financial losses of approximately KRW 13 billion during the development, encompassing expenses related to hotel renovations. Both GJC and Gangwon Province, however, insist they bear no responsibility for the losses alleged by Legoland.
The ongoing disagreement between the two parties could potentially culminate in legal proceedings should negotiations prove unsuccessful. This development has also sparked apprehension among local residents and civic organizations, who fear that the province might confront an even more considerable financial strain, given that it has already incurred significant expenses pertaining to the Legoland project.
The Citizens Countermeasures Committee for Stopping the Waste of Taxpayer Money on Legoland released a statement on August 10, expressing disapproval of the project. The group argued that residents have already shouldered excessive financial and administrative burdens stemming from the project's debt and contentious agreements, while accusing Legoland of attempting to impose an additional KRW 13 billion burden on taxpayers instead of implementing its own solutions to address the losses.
The Gangwon branch of the Justice Party also criticized the compensation demand, contending that Legoland has previously benefited from various infrastructure projects and administrative and financial support from the province. The party questioned whether Legoland is endeavoring to shift the ramifications of its own claimed losses onto local taxpayers without demonstrating a commitment to cohabitation with the surrounding community.
Written by urgent.news from Korea IT Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
