Kangwon Land is accelerating efforts to shift its business portfolio from casinos to a four-season, multi-purpose resort. A luge and a skywalk are expected to make their debut next year on top of the Water World water park, which was opened to the public last year.

The luge, tentatively named “High1 Luge,” will open next second half. The luge stands at 1.9 km in length, the longest in Gangwon-do. The project will cost 18.4 billion won.

The luge is an amusement facility in which unpowered carts move downward on a track. Kangwon Land sees the upcoming luge to serve as a magnet to attract a large crowd of visitors. In reality, luges, operated by Daemyung Leisure Industry and Yong Pyong Ski Resort in PyeongChang, each attract more than 100,000 visitors yearly.

Projects to build a skywalk and a water garden will be pushed in earnest next year. A skywalk will be created in an area surrounding the High1 top at High1 Ski Resort.

The skywalk, tentatively named “High1 Walk,” will stand 130 meters in length and 40 meters in height. Its actual design will be done next year, and High1 Walk will be dedicated by 2022. It will cost a combined 4.8 billion won.

A water garden will be created at a lawn lot covering 16,480 sq. meters behind Grand Hotel at a cost of 18.6 billion won. The water garden will be filled with a music fountain, flowers monuments, and an outdoor stand. Kangwon Land plans to finish its design by next year and dedicate the water garden by 2022. Next second half.

Kangwon Land plans to embark on a mine culture park on a lot covering 186,019 sq. meters to see and appreciate the heritage of mine and modern industries and their chronologies.

The Water World, which was opened in July 2018, is evaluated to have a track record of attracting some 460,000 tourists so far this year. “High1 Sky Road,” a trekking course, and “Slower Garden,” bedecked with wild flowers along a sloped area covering 8,000 sq. meters, enjoy popularity among visitors.

Meanwhile, Kangwon Land President Moon Tae-gon said tourism products related to regional tourist spots will be developed like a regional tour pass as part of efforts to ramp up the competitiveness of High1 Resort. High1 Resort is stepping up efforts to attract large-scale events, strengthen overseas marketing activities and offer strategic incentives to lure tourists.

High1 Resort also strives to expand four-season cultural content related to four themes: flowers, wind, woods and light. The resort also wants to make festivals such as High1 Fireworks Show its landmark cultural content.

Kangwon Land is laying a foundation to develop the slot machine manufacturing business. Five new theme slot machines have been developed and five others are under development. The company is seeking to secure facilities to mass produce the new slot machines.

Two 1st-class in-house venture teams have been inaugurated to cultivate creative corporate culture and explore new revenue sources. Three 2nd-class venture teams are to be selected.

Kangwon Land President Moon spoke of these and other policies during a parliamentary audit of the corporation by the National Assembly Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs and Startups Committee on Oct. 15.

A society contribution center will be dedicated by 2021 at a cost of 13 billion won as part of Kangwon Land’s efforts to raise social values.