Latest news with #KoreaCultureandTourismInstitute
The Star
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
A South Korean city wanted ‘Big Tree' landmark; It got a US$25mil letdown
SEOUL (The Korea Herald/ANN): A South Korean port city's attempt to build a landmark attraction to draw visitors has run into public backlash, with critics calling its new 34.4 billion won (S$31.8 million - US$ 25million) 'Big Tree' observation tower a costly disappointment. The Big Tree, which rises 46.5m in Changwon, south-eastern South Korea, was inspired by the towering Supertrees at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay. It was designed to anchor Daesang Park, a public-private partnership development worth about 1 trillion won, and to serve as a draw for both domestic and international visitors. The tower offers 360-degree views of Masan Port, Dotseom Island and Muhaksan mountain, but as recent local media reports and public commentary have noted, its squat proportions, sparse artificial foliage and incongruous decorative animal statues have left many residents underwhelmed. Changwon, home to just over a million people, is an industrial and shipping hub near the south-eastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. It became a 'special city' in 2022 under South Korean law, granting it some additional autonomy over development projects. City officials promoted the Big Tree as a signature tourist attraction that could help alleviate South Korea's longstanding problem of tourism being concentrated in Seoul. According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, 78 per cent of foreign visitors in 2024 spent time in the capital, compared with just 16.5 per cent in Busan, 11.2 per cent in Gyeonggi province and 10.9 per cent on Jeju Island. The tower was built under a public-private partnership, a model widely used by Korean municipalities to avoid losing undeveloped urban parkland to private use under the country's 'urban park sunset law' that took effect in 2020. In Changwon's case, the private developer agreed to build most of the park facilities, including the Big Tree, and transfer them to the city, while retaining about 12.7 per cent of the site for a 1,779-unit apartment complex and other revenue-generating properties. City officials have now confirmed that the Big Tree's upper structure will be redesigned, but they expect this process to take at least a year. The redesign will be selected through a nationwide competition and citizen consultations. Even if work proceeds smoothly, the city estimates that construction could only start in the second half of 2026. In response to negative feedback, Changwon has decided not to charge an entry fee when the tower begins official operations on Oct 1. Local media inspections in recent weeks described artificial leaves arranged so sparsely that they seemed unfinished, and interior plant sculptures that were clearly fake. Some small details, such as a few realistic-looking faux plants, drew brief curiosity, but most of the decorative elements were identified as looking 'too artificial'. Another key feature of Daesang Park is the 'Mom's Free Zone', a literal translation from Korean that may sound awkward in English. The name reflects its original idea: a safe indoor space where mothers could take a break – 'free' from childcare – while children played in a clean, pollution-free environment. Proposed in 2020 amid public concern over fine dust, it was envisioned as a mix of play areas, lounges, and cultural spaces. The 5,000 sq m building, costing about 25 billion won, sits next to a new 1,779-unit apartment complex being built under the same public-private project. It was designed with these future residents, especially young families, in mind. But nearly five years on, the facility is still an empty shell, with no set plan for its contents or operator, and no dedicated parking. A consulting study due in September may propose uses such as a kids' cafe, library, or coffee shop, but the city has already extended the completion deadline to February 2026, long after the apartments open this October. -- THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Straits Times
A South Korean city wanted ‘Big Tree' landmark. It got a S$31.8m letdown
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The original rendering of Changwon city's 'Big Tree' observation tower (left) and a photo of the landmark attraction taken in July. A South Korean port city's attempt to build a landmark attraction to draw visitors has run into public backlash, with critics calling its new 34.4 billion won ( S$31.8 million ) 'Big Tree' observation tower a costly disappointment. The Big Tree, which rises 46.5 metres in Changwon, south - eastern South Korea, was inspired by the towering Supertrees at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay. It was designed to anchor Daesang Park, a public-private partnership development worth about 1 trillion won, and to serve as a draw for both domestic and international visitors. The tower offers 360-degree views of Masan Port, Dotseom Island and Muhaksan mountain, but as recent local media reports and public commentary have noted, its squat proportions, sparse artificial foliage and incongruous decorative animal statues have left many residents underwhelmed. Changwon, home to just over one million people, is an industrial and shipping hub near the south - eastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. It became a 'special city' in 2022 under South Korean law, granting it some additional autonomy over development projects. City officials promoted the Big Tree as a signature tourist attraction that could help alleviate South Korea's long-standing problem of tourism being concentrated in Seoul. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Jobs, infrastructure and homes at the core of Singapore's resilience: Economists Singapore LTA, public transport operators join anti-vaping effort with stepped-up enforcement Opinion It's time vaping offences had tougher consequences Singapore Malaysia's Inspector-General receives prestigious Singapore award Asia 2 firefighters die in building fire at Osaka's Dotonbori tourist district Singapore Woman hurt after car turns turtle in Upper Thomson accident Singapore Jail for driver of 11-tonne garbage truck that ran over cyclist in Woodlands Life 'Unexpected challenge': Actor Jet Li in hospital for operation According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, 78 per cent of foreign visitors in 2024 spent time in the capital, compared to just 16.5 per cent in Busan, 11.2 per cent in Gyeonggi Province and 10.9 per cent on Jeju Island. The tower was built under a public-private partnership, a model widely used by Korean municipalities to avoid losing undeveloped urban parkland to private use under the country's 'urban park sunset law' that took effect in 2020. In Changwon's case, the private developer agreed to build most of the park facilities, including the Big Tree, and transfer them to the city, while retaining about 12.7 per cent of the site for a 1,779-unit apartment complex and other revenue-generating properties. City officials have now confirmed that the Big Tree's upper structure will be redesigned, but they expect this process to take at least a year. The redesign will be selected through a nationwide competition and citizen consultations. Even if work proceeds smoothly, the city estimates that construction could only start in the second half of 2026. In response to negative feedback, Changwon has decided not to charge an entry fee when the tower begins official operations on Oct 1. Local media inspections in recent weeks described artificial leaves arranged so sparsely they seemed unfinished, and interior plant sculptures that were clearly fake. Some small details, such as a few realistic-looking faux plants, drew brief curiosity, but most of the decorative elements were identified as looking 'too artificial '. Another key feature of Daesang Park is the 'Mom's Free Zone,' a literal translation from Korean that may sound awkward in English. The name reflects its original idea: a safe indoor space where mothers could take a break – 'free' from childcare – while children played in a clean, pollution-free environment. Proposed in 2020 amid public concern over fine dust, it was envisioned as a mix of play areas, lounges, and cultural spaces. The 5,000 sq m building, costing about 25 billion won, sits next to a new 1,779-unit apartment complex being built under the same public-private project. It was designed with these future residents, especially young families, in mind. But nearly five years on, the facility is still an empty shell, with no set plan for its contents or operator, and no dedicated parking. A consulting study due in September may propose uses such as a kids' cafe , library, or coffee shop, but the city has already extended the completion deadline to February 2026, long after the apartments open this October. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
A S. Korean city wanted 'Big Tree' landmark. It got a W34.4b letdown
A South Korean port city's attempt to build a landmark attraction to draw visitors has run into public backlash, with critics calling its new 34.4 billion won ($24.8 million) 'Big Tree' observation tower a costly disappointment. The Big Tree, which rises 46.5 meters in Changwon, southeastern South Korea, was inspired by the towering Supertrees at Singapore's Gardens by the Bay. It was designed to anchor Daesang Park, a public-private partnership development worth about 1 trillion won ($720 million), and to serve as a draw for both domestic and international visitors. The tower offers 360-degree views of Masan Port, Dotseom Island and Muhaksan mountain, but as recent local media reports and public commentary have noted, its squat proportions, sparse artificial foliage and incongruous decorative animal statues have left many residents underwhelmed. Changwon, home to just over one million people, is an industrial and shipping hub near the southeastern tip of the Korean Peninsula. It became a 'special city' in 2022 under South Korean law, granting it some additional autonomy over development projects. City officials promoted the Big Tree as a signature tourist attraction that could help alleviate South Korea's long-standing problem of tourism being concentrated in Seoul. According to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute, 78 percent of foreign visitors in 2024 spent time in the capital, compared to just 16.5 percent in Busan, 11.2 percent in Gyeonggi Province and 10.9 percent on Jeju Island. The tower was built under a public-private partnership, a model widely used by Korean municipalities to avoid losing undeveloped urban parkland to private use under the country's "urban park sunset law" that took effect in 2020. In Changwon's case, the private developer agreed to build most of the park facilities, including the Big Tree, and transfer them to the city, while retaining about 12.7 percent of the site for a 1,779-unit apartment complex and other revenue-generating properties. City officials have now confirmed that the Big Tree's upper structure will be redesigned, but they expect this process to take at least a year. The redesign will be selected through a nationwide competition and citizen consultations. Even if work proceeds smoothly, the city estimates construction could only start in the second half of 2026. In response to negative feedback, Changwon has decided not to charge an entry fee when the tower begins official operations on Oct. 1. Local media inspections in recent weeks described artificial leaves arranged so sparsely they seemed unfinished, and interior plant sculptures that were clearly fake. Some small details, such as a few realistic-looking faux plants, drew brief curiosity, but most of the decorative elements were identified as looking "too artificial." The Daesang Park project also includes the Mom's Free Zone, an indoor family-oriented community center, but that facility remains only a structural shell. With apartments scheduled for occupancy from October, city officials acknowledge that the center will not open this year. They have extended the developer's deadline for finishing the park facilities to February 2026 to address deficiencies. mjh@
The Sun
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
HYBE agency raided over alleged fraud by BTS founder
SEOUL: Police raided the headquarters of HYBE, the agency behind global K-pop sensation BTS, on Thursday over allegations of fraudulent trading involving founder Bang Si-hyuk. Investigators confirmed the search and seizure operation at the company's Yongsan District office. Bang, the 52-year-old mastermind behind BTS, is under scrutiny for allegedly misleading early investors ahead of HYBE's 2020 initial public offering (IPO). Local reports claim he gained around 200 billion won ($146 million) by encouraging pre-IPO shareholders to sell their stakes to private equity funds while secretly planning the listing. HYBE has denied any wrongdoing. 'The IPO was conducted in full compliance with regulations,' the company stated earlier this month, pledging full cooperation with authorities. The investigation coincides with BTS' anticipated 2026 comeback following the completion of mandatory military service by all seven members. HYBE recently announced a new album and world tour for next year. Before enlistment, BTS contributed over 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) annually to South Korea's economy, roughly 0.2% of GDP, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute. Despite public debate, the group did not qualify for military exemptions under current laws. - AFP
NDTV
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Jungkook And Jimin On BTS's Comeback In 2026: "We Can't Delay It Any Longer"
BTS members Jungkook and Jimin recently spilled the beans on the group's highly anticipated 2026 comeback. The duo revealed that the septet are aiming to release new music in the upcoming spring season. If released in the spring of 2026, their comeback album would be their first in four years since Proof (2022). During a live session on Weverse, Jungkook said, "We're aiming for next spring. Now, no matter what the outcome is, we have to release something. Right?" Jimin added, "That's right." The younger one further stated, "Our ARMY has waited so long, we can't delay it any longer." Jimin responded, "We can't postpone it." ????: We're aiming for next spring. Now, no matter what the outcome is, we have to release something. Right? ????: That's right. ????: Our ARMY has waited so long, we can't delay it any longer. ????: We can't postpone it. ????: So, what's today's concept? ????: Dumb, dumb. A fool's talk… — bts memeories⁷ (@btsmemeories) July 14, 2025 Jimin said, 'I'm really curious. I mean, we don't even know what we're doing yet. I'm wondering what kind of song we'll come back with.' Jungkook replied, "Actually, the title... I'm really curious. Next spring. We have to work hard until next spring. Honestly, I'm a bit worried." Describing himself as 'a very realistic person', Jungkook added, "I can't write lyrics like RM (Kim Namjoon) hyung (elder brother). I'm very straightforward and very realistic, so the wording doesn't come out." BTS members Jungkook and Jimin completed their 18-month mandatory military service on June 11. During a ceremony, the two singers made an appearance at a public sports facility near their former unit in Yeoncheon, about 60 km north of the South Korean capital Seoul. Read the full story here. Jimin and Jungkook enlisted together as active-duty soldiers in December 2023. Their release came a day after BTS leader RM and another member, V. SUGA completed his duty on June 24. Jin, the oldest BTS member aged 32, completed his service in June last year, while J-Hope was discharged in October 2024. Prior to their mandatory military service, the boy band generated more than 5.5 trillion won ($4 billion) in yearly economic impact, according to the Korea Culture and Tourism Institute.
