Gangwon-do's Jeongseon-gun is moving forward with plans to host a prison in Sabuk, a city known for its casinos and resorts. While the move is justified by the need to boost population inflow and revitalize the local economy, experts point out the need for a thorough review of its impact on the tourism industry linked to Kangwon Land, as well as the necessity for broader public consultation.
On the 8th, Jeongseon-gun held a public briefing at the Sabuk-eup Administrative Welfare Center, attended by about 30 people, including Ministry of Justice correctional experts, local officials, and residents. The county plans to submit its first application for the Ministry of Justice's correctional facility site selection on the 12th.
The cover of the briefing brochure read, “A new leap for the future! Your voices create a happy Jeongseon.”
The proposed site is a 192,700㎡ area in Jikjeon-ri, Sabuk-eup. The project aims for a 2035 opening, with an investment of 241.9 billion KRW to accommodate 1,000 inmates and approximately 250 resident staff members.
The county expects an influx of about 600 people, including staff and their families, and anticipates 15,000 visitors annually for inmate visitations. They have proposed mutual growth plans, including hiring at least 20 local residents for regular and public service positions, as well as involving local businesses and purchasing local agricultural products.
However, the extent to which the projected population inflow and consumption will actually contribute to the local economy remains to be verified. Another key task is examining how a correctional facility will coexist with the tourism infrastructure of Kangwon Land, which attracts about 3 million visitors annually.
Given that the briefing was attended by only about 30 people, including officials, there is a clear need to collect a wider range of opinions from residents, merchants, the tourism industry, and casino patrons.
A Jeongseon-gun official stated, “We cannot rely on Kangwon Land forever. We are pursuing the correctional facility as a way to prepare for the future, especially in light of developments like the Osaka IR in Japan,” adding, “Many local merchants, residents, and social organizations are in favor because it helps revitalize the local economy.”
In response, a Kangwon Land representative said, “This is the first time I’ve heard about a prison bid in Sabuk. I don’t have enough information to comment.” While this statement alone does not confirm the company's overall awareness, it highlights a need to verify whether information is being shared with major tourism operators.
Meanwhile, negative reactions have appeared in customer communities, with comments such as, “Are they going crazy?”, “They’re going to bring in all sorts of junk from across the country,” “Isn’t this a loss of common sense?”, and “I guess I’ll only visit until 2033.” While these represent only some users, they reveal a gap between the county’s economic revitalization plans and the perceptions of visitors to the tourism city.