Inside Asian Gaming

INSIDE ASIAN GAMING NOVEMBER 2018 24 COVER STORY something that is more resort oriented and complementary with families, for holidays and things like that.’ And that’s why we came up with Jeju Shinhwa World,” Lee says. “We have hotels, F&B, theme park, water park, K-pop, casual dining, retail, the whole works.” Lee notes Jeju room rates hover around US$300, “by far the highest in Korea.” Shinhwa World accommodations include a 486-key Marriott above the casino, 615-room Landing Resort, 342 Somerset- branded three-bedroom townhouses and, launching by early 2019, Shinhwa Resort with 538 rooms plus an additional Marriott wing raising its room count to 627. Occupancy runs 80% on weekends, 40% during the week. Phase two, opening 2020, features a 200-key Four Seasons, Jeju’s first, and Lionsgate Movie World. Current family offerings include Shinhwa Theme Park featuring Larva, a Korean cartoon series for all ages, an indoor-outdoor water park opened in August with 18 slides and pools plus a jimbilbang (Korean style sauna) and Transformers Autobots Alliance, a virtual reality activity center based on the film series. A combination ticket for the three attractions costs KRW49,000, and no one goes alone. The resort offers room packages including attraction admissions, and entertainment areas include places parents can regroup over a cold beer. K-CUISINE Shinhwa World’s two dozen food options run Korean, Chinese and Japanese fine dining to American chain Johnny Rockets and local fast food. YG Republique is inspired by talent agency YG Entertainment’s performers, notably K-Pop icon G-Dragon, a member of boy band Big Bang. The G-Dragon-designed cafe Untitled 2017 echoes his solo single Untitled 2014. His creative input went into an urban chic bowling alley cum lounge pub that, like the precinct’s four Asian and international casual restaurants, pays homage to G-Dragon with local specialties such as seafood and black pork plus seasonal ingredients. Jeju’s attractive setting and visa-free entry present a major MICE opportunity. Shinhwa World’s 12,180-square meter convention center, opened a year ago in November 2017, is Jeju’s first with accommodation attached. The ballroom seats 2,000 theater style or 1,000 for dinner. Shinhwa World casts a wide net for MICE, starting with Korea and China, extending to Southeast Asia. The 230-hectare development also includes Shinhwa Villas – 350 townhouses and villas available for purchase. Foreigners can obtain local residency with a KRW500 million purchase. With these varied income streams, Shinhwa World’s first-half net revenue was 80% gaming, 20% non-gaming, toward its goal of a 50-50 split. It’s another indicator of a great takeoff for Landing. Jeju’s attractive setting and visa-free entry present a major MICE opportunity. Shinhwa World’s 12,180-square meter convention center, opened a year ago in November 2017, is Jeju’s first with accommodation attached. The Waterpark at Jeju Shinhwa World Jeju Shinhwa World includes Shinhwa Villas – 350 townhouses and villas available for purchase.