Kangwon Land has formed a new Organizational Diagnosis and Innovation Committee to review its management structure and major strategic projects, including the feasibility of the KRW3 trillion K-HIT resort transformation programme.
Chief executive Kim Do-gyun launched the committee after a prolonged period without a permanent CEO. The group held its first meeting on October 2 and will work through the end of 2026.
Its remit covers organizational structure and personnel systems, major initiatives including K-HIT, and working practices and corporate culture.
Kangwon Land said the committee includes external experts alongside representatives from management, the labor union, women and younger employees.
“The launch of this committee serves as an opportunity to take an objective look at the organization’s current state and specifically identify areas requiring change and innovation,” Kim said, as reported by Inside Asian Gaming. “By broadly gathering input from diverse members and recommendations from external experts, we will drive tangible changes that both employees and customers can truly experience.”
K-HIT Project Comes Under Review
K-HIT is intended to transform Kangwon Land into a broader integrated resort.
Near-term investment includes KRW200 billion for upgrades and expansion of hotel and casino facilities. Longer-term plans cover additional non-gaming amenities such as improved walking trails, a wellness center and a luxury pool villa.
The broader programme has previously been associated with a 2035 completion target, annual visitation of 13 million and yearly revenue of KRW3.5 trillion.
The latest announcement did not identify any changes to the project’s budget, scope or timetable.
Kim had already pledged to accelerate K-HIT after taking office in September and said the resort should connect more closely with nearby tourism assets, including forests and former coal-mining areas.
The redevelopment is also being pursued ahead of increased regional competition, including the planned opening of MGM Osaka in 2030.
Visitor Numbers Remain Strong
Kangwon Land operates South Korea’s only casino permitted to accept local players.
The resort welcomed more than 94,000 visitors during the four-day Chuseok holiday from September 24 to 27. About 34,000 visited the hotel and 33,000 went to the casino, while around 15,000 used the condo facilities.
Another 9,700 visited other attractions including Water World, while roughly 1,000 used the golf course.
Casino visitation also increased in 2025, rising 4.4% to 2,478,658 according to data from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
“[Kangwon Land] is continuously striving to become a resort that customers want to revisit by offering new attractions for every season,” said Kim. “We aim to establish ourselves as a global resort representing South Korea by consistently enhancing our diverse content based on our pristine natural environment, while simultaneously serving as a tourism hub that grows alongside the local community.”
The committee will use staff feedback, external expertise and examples from South Korea and overseas when preparing recommendations.
Its work follows a period of leadership uncertainty and is intended to identify practical changes across the organization.
Separately, Kangwon Land’s board approved KRW3.7 billion on September 30 to support businesses in areas transitioning away from coal mining and elsewhere in Gangwon.
Of that amount, KRW3 billion will support business relocation and KRW700 million will go to small- and medium-sized enterprises.
The committee is expected to complete its review by year-end, with its findings set to shape Kangwon Land’s organizational reforms and future handling of the K-HIT redevelopment.