Looking to boost tourism and spread Korean culture further across the globe, Korea has begun constructing a huge theme park to showcase everything Korean, from entertainment to cuisine, all housed in one massive complex named "K-Culture Valley."
On May 20, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the project in Ilsan, where the park will be built.
"The culture content industry is key industry in this creative economy age where imagination and idea become a product, and is an alchemy of the 21st century that creates new value-added," President Park said at the ceremony according to Donga.
The park is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2017 and is expected to attract over five million visitors annually, mostly from other countries.
"The belt is a platform that will foster both culture and a creative economy." President Park added.
In addition to promoting Korean culture, the city will also drive growth of the economy and spur job creation.
Plans for the complex include a shopping mall, traditional Korean-style hotel, 2,000 seat concert hall, and more.
The project is estimated to cost CJ, the builders, 1.2 billion dollars and will have 6 different zones each showcasing a different part of the 5,000-year history of Korea.
However, government estimates reveal that the cost of the theme park will be quickly recouped; the area is expected to provide 56,000 jobs and bring in over $7.3 billion.
