Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp. (SL) held a session to announce plan to build a large theme park and resort complex on a landfill site near Incheon, with investments made by foreign investors led by PDI, at the auditorium of the Seo Ward of Incheon Metropolitan City on Feb.11.
Chairman Stephen Huh led the session, along with Vice Chairman Merrill Hanson, to explain the framework for the huge project to be built on a spacious 5.15 million square meters of land. The facilities and installations to be built include a theme park, a water park, resort/condo, hotel, department store, shopping complex. The proposed project is in line with the government’s Creative Economy Drive.
A slew of dignitaries at the event included Rep. Lee Hak-jae from the Seo Ward in Incheon, President Song Jae-yong of SL Corp.
Chairman Hun said the project will require some 5.1 trillion won in total financing, with 53 percent of the investment to come from outside Korea or 2.7 trillion won, which would create 16.5 trillion won in economic spinoffs. Some 6,300 residents in nearby areas, including Seo Ward where the project will be located, will be hired to work on the project daily. The theme park will have annual employment of some 2.299 million people. Investors in the project will hold welfare events for residents in the nearby areas and Seo Ward, such as the Experience for Education Culture Program and the Welfare Programs.
PDI chairman Huh said his company conducted serious research on possible environmental problems from the resort complex and no problems were found. He is that the project will be a great success. Rep Lee said the event took place at the request of residents of the nearby areas and it is sure to improve the reputation of the area by removing the former garbage dump.
Regarding the appropriateness of building a theme park on the site of a former dump, Chairman Huh said his company conducted research for two years before making the decision to build the theme park there and found that no environmental problems to occur. They will build the theme park to show that a landfill can be utilized beautifully.
About 400 people from nearby areas around the landfill attended the event, asking all kinds of questions about the site, the possibility of its success and the construction period, among others.
The event took place at the auditorium of Seo Ward in Incheon.
The project was conceived when the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corp. was under the Ministry of Environment.
SL Corp. was transferred to the Incheon Metropolitan City under the city’s jurisdiction because a major part of the landfill was part of the city
SL Corp. was established in order to promote the landfill for the stable and sanitary treatment of waste from the capital region, and contribute to creating a more comfortable living environment of surrounding areas for residents.
Since its establishment in 2000, SL Corp. has contributed to the development of country and region as a core institution, which is creating the future value through not only implementing the environmentally friendly management of waste, but also converting waste into resource and energy.
“Now we are just about to convert Sudokwon Landfills into a mecca of ecological restoration,” the company said.
