▲ Seogwipo's Second Tourism Complex, marked in yellow with 'V.P'. Jeju Healthcare Town is seen in blue below. Image courtesy Jeju Special Self-Governing Province

Jeju Special Self-Governing Province announced on Tuesday, July 8, that construction at the Second Tourism Complex in Seogwipo City has stalled for the second time.

The 2.4 million square meter complex in Donghong-dong first stalled in 2008 and management was passed to Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC) in 2010 after tourist and medical complex plans were drawn up by the Korea Tourism Organization. The initial plans included the construction of Seogwipo’s second major tourism complex after Jungmun.

However, the tourism complex has had difficulty attracting funding and environmentalists have protested that 75 percent of the site covers woodland bordering Mt. Hallasan National park, north of Sallongnam Road. The complex plans are now being reviewed.

With regards to the news, local councillor Wi Seong-gon of the Democratic Alliance for New Politics said, “This is now the time for an alternative review of the Second Tourist Complex construction.”

Neighboring Jeju Healthcare Town has fared better, attracting 1 trillion won in investment, yet its plans are to be reassessed following Governor Won taking office. Won is on record stating that the development must follow its original purpose to attract medical facilities rather than becoming overly focused on tourist development.