Hwaseong City and Shinsegae Hwaseong Push Ahead with Star Bay City, International Theme Park Tourism Complex

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park Chan-hyuk] Hwaseong Special City and Shinsegae Hwaseong are accelerating the final administrative procedure for the ‘Hwaseong International Theme Park’ to be built in Songsan Green City—the ‘development plan establishment and approval application for the Hwaseong International Theme Park Tourism Complex (Star Bay City)’.

Accordingly, the city and Shinsegae Hwaseong held a ‘Hwaseong International Theme Park Tourism Complex (Star Bay City) Promotion Status Briefing’ on the 25th to share relevant matters and establish a platform for cooperation.

At the briefing, Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myeong-geun discussed the development plan establishment status with Shinsegae Hwaseong, the project operator, and urged close cooperation for successful project implementation.

The briefing addressed the overall project progress including △development plan establishment status △major attraction concepts using Paramount IP within the theme park △internal road and facility naming, and role division among relevant organizations.

Shinsegae Hwaseong is currently establishing an in-depth development plan for Star Bay City and plans to submit the blueprint to the city by the first half of this year.

The city will conduct thorough review of the submitted plan by soliciting opinions from related departments and relevant agencies, then proceed with approval application for the development plan through consultation with Gyeonggi Province.

In particular, the city aims to obtain approval by next year and plans to actively respond to environmental impact assessments and other impact evaluation procedures in cooperation with the province and Shinsegae Hwaseong.

Shinsegae Hwaseong plans to pursue Phase 1 development projects scheduled through 2030, with a goal of completing the first phase in 2029 by developing a theme park applying Paramount IP. Thereafter, large-scale entertainment facilities such as a water park, shopping mall, and hotel will begin full-scale operations.

Additionally, by 2050, through Phase 1 project expansion, the company plans to develop additional facilities such as hotels and resorts, completing Star Bay City as a smart city-type tourism complex where people, nature, and technology coexist.

The Hwaseong International Theme Park Star Bay City is expected to attract 30 million visitors annually from home and abroad, and is projected to become a new engine for Hwaseong City's balanced development through the creation of 110,000 jobs and production and added value effects valued at approximately 70.6 trillion won.

Mayor Jung Myeong-geun stated, “Hwaseong International Theme Park Star Bay City is a core project that will drive Hwaseong City's future growth,” adding, “The operator will do its utmost in establishing the development plan, and the city will work closely with Gyeonggi Province to expedite the approval process, sparing no administrative support.”

He added, “We hope that Star Bay City will establish itself as a world-class tourism hub and a new center for Hwaseong City's balanced development.”