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Merlin announces agreement to open LEGOLAND Korea

Offical_Pitchnoir

Roller Poster
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Merlin Entertainments (“Merlin”), a global leader in location-based entertainment, today confirms that it has entered into a partnership agreement with the Gangwon Provincial Government to build a LEGOLAND Park in South Korea, scheduled to open by 2022.

LEGOLAND Korea will be situated upon the island of Hajungdo in Chuncheon, located approximately one hour’s journey east of Seoul and within a 2-hour drive time of nearly 24 million people. The fullscale theme park resort will also incorporate a fully themed LEGOLAND Hotel upon opening. It will employ 1,600 people and is expected to provide an economic boost to the city of Chuncheon and the surrounding region.

The total cost of the resort, including the on-site accommodation, is expected to be KRW 290 billion (£205 million1). Merlin will invest KRW 210 billion (£148 million) into the development of the resort, which will be fully owned and operated by Merlin.

The remaining funding of KRW 80 billion (£56 million) will come from LL Developments, the investment arm of Gangwon Province. Additionally the funding for necessary additional infrastructure adjacent to the resort will be provided by national, regional and local governments.

It will be Merlin’s tenth LEGOLAND Park, following LEGOLAND New York’s scheduled opening in 2020. Merlin is also in advanced discussions with third parties about a number of sites for LEGOLAND Parks in China and continues to see opportunity for 20 LEGOLAND Parks around the world, over time.

Nick Varney, Merlin’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “It’s been long in gestation, but I’m delighted that we are now in a position to move forward with opening LEGOLAND Korea Resort. We know Koreans love theme parks and love LEGO, and together with the Gangwon authorities, we have already established an attractive and well-connected site in Chuncheon. We look forward to accelerating progress with our partners who have contributed significantly with funding and infrastructural support, and to welcoming our first guests to LEGOLAND Korea Resort.

We remain excited about the potential of LEGOLAND Parks, the roll out of which is a strategic growth driver for
Merlin, and we continue to look at opportunities for further sites around the world.”

As part of the ongoing relationship, the Korean Government, Gangwon Province and Chuncheon City have already invested in the construction of a new bridge to Hajungdo island and undertaken groundworks on the site. Further retail and complementary leisure offerings are planned as part of the island’s overall development.

The LEGO brand was introduced to South Korea in 1984 and quickly established itself as one of the country’s best loved toy brands. The LEGO brand is a market leader and South Korea has developed to become LEGO Group’s third largest market in Asia Pacific.

Merlin also operates a SEA LIFE Centre in Busan, South Korea.

1 Based upon a KRW/GBP exchange rate of 1418 as at 03 January 2019.
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation
(EU) No 596/2014.
SOURCE
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Lori Marie Loud

Giga Poster
Better late than never. Not sure whats been going on but this park was originally announced in 2012 to open in 2015.

The original Merlin announcement from 2012 seems to have gone but heres an early video.

for reference the location is here
https://www.google.com/maps/@37.885726,127.6943464,1618m/data=!3m1!1e3
According to the article on the main page, they found prehistoric ruins on the site and construction ground to a halt faster than Steam's Screenshot Uploader.
 
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Hixee

Flojector
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
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According to the article on the main page, they found prehistoric ruins on the site and construction ground to a halt faster than Steam's Screenshot Uploader.
Is this a meme?
 

Peet

Giga Poster
construction ground to a halt faster than Steam's Screenshot Uploader.
Ah so you're into your computer games? I could be wrong but I don't think this is the right audience for that kind of reference!

Maybe try "construction ground to a halt faster than a Maurer Spinner's queue when it starts raining" ;-)
 

Lori Marie Loud

Giga Poster
Ah so you're into your computer games? I could be wrong but I don't think this is the right audience for that kind of reference!

Maybe try "construction ground to a halt faster than a Maurer Spinner's queue when it starts raining" ;-)
Uh, i like to play RCT3 and PlanCo.
 

Niles

Giga Poster
*Bump*

So the park is coming along well, while these new Legoland's look like they are just cut and pastes of each other this one does have a really nice location and picturesque backdrop.
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Source:
 

CanobieFan

Strata Poster
Don't let it bother you too much; they're still all s**te.
lol, I wouldnt know, the Legoland Malaysia one was closed for me, but I do tend to enjoy tower rides :|
Just found it strange they got one here, that tiny-ass-Japan park got one.... but New York couldnt?
 
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