Kangwon province, where Kangwon Land is located, was well known as a
coal mining area. It once experienced a "coal rush" when coal was used as a major national energy source during the 1970s to 1980s. The Kangwon province had experienced devastating economic downturns since coal was replaced by
gas and
oil in the 90s. The Korean government tried to introduce several alternatives to revitalize the local economy, but the community repeatedly and vigorously requested a domestic casino, and it became authorized in December 1995. In October 2000, when Kangwon Land first opened to Korean citizens as well as to international tourists, it had one hotel with 199 rooms and a casino that had only 30 table games and 480 slot machines. Kangwon Land operates two hotels with 674 rooms, two condominiums with 403 rooms, an 18-hole
golf course, a
ski resort with 18 slopes, and a casino with 132 table games and 960 slot machines on 2,800 acres of land. The effort to diversify sales continues today, as Kangwon Land is constructing a new convention hotel and 2 more condominiums. A new water park is scheduled to open in 2015 to complete the family-oriented year round comprehensive resort. Kangwon Land offers
scholarship to students in abandoned mine areas and also spends 2 billion won each year to treat
pneumoconiosis patients and support their livelihood. ==Kangwon Land Casino==