The chief executive officer of Grand Korea Leisure Co Ltd (GKL) told GGRAsia in an interview that the company is monitoring a major port redevelopment in South Korea’s Busan city to see if it is a suitable location for a foreigner-only casino.
Yoon Doo-hyun (pictured) said, “We are watching the matter closely, but nothing has been resolved.” The company currently operates a casino at Lotte Hotel in Busan.
The southeastern city’s government is leading a Busan North Port redevelopment project with a cruise terminal. According to the Busan Metropolitan City website for the project, the budget for the first phase of the multi-year plan is 8.5 trillion won (US$5.83 billion), which includes a waterfront park and commercial and business facilities.
GKL operates Seven Luck branded casinos in South Korea and celebrated its 20th anniversary in September.
Casino Group, which is listed on the Korea Exchange, is 51% owned by the Korea Tourism Organization, which is under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. The company operates three facilities. There are two in the capital, Seoul, and two in Gangnam COEX and Dragon City. And one at Busan Lotte.
GGRAsia asked Yun whether he might consider operating a casino on the semi-autonomous island of Jeju.
He said, “Jeju Island has eight casino licenses and the market on Jeju Island is already saturated as most establishments are struggling to maintain revenue.”
Philippine-listed Bloomberry Resorts Corp. last month announced a deal to dispose of its loss-making Jeju Sun business, which includes a hotel and a foreigner-only casino on Jeju Island.
Regarding GKL’s current business structure, Yun said VIP players account for about 10% of customers, but more than 70% of sales.
The CEO said Japan is the company’s largest source market for customers, and marketing to Japanese customers is supported in this area by the company’s liaison offices in Tokyo and Osaka. In addition, clients from Taiwan and Southeast Asia often arrive on visa-free status through package tours.
Yun said that while customers from mainland China remain important to the Seoul and Busan markets, group tourists from China remain sensitive to public policies regarding visas and visa-free travel.
GKL also connects with customers based in North America and Europe through cultural events, as well as foreigners residing in South Korea and “overseas Chinese” who are ethnically Korean but live in China, through information sessions and customized promotions.
Regarding the mass and VIP segments, Yun commented, “VIP provides volume, but mass customers will support us when there are headwinds.”
He added: “While the Gangnam COEX venue (pictured below) remains GKL’s flagship and VIP-oriented due to its premium location, Dragon City has been repositioned as more mass-market focused, testing product mixes and promotions to suit urban visitors and business travelers.”
Digital technologies such as AI
Yun said GKL aims to expand into cultural tourism and digital services. The company’s new AI innovation team, launched in September, is developing tools such as predictive data systems, upgraded apps and kiosks, and autonomous robots to deliver some services.
The company also seeks to offer a wide range of experiences to visitors, including what it calls beauty tourism and K-culture programs. As GKL celebrates its 20th anniversary, it has focused on sustainability, environment, society, governance practices and workplace safety, the CEO said.
In terms of regulatory compliance and responsible gaming policy, Yun suggested that GKL’s collaboration with the public sector means it adheres to stricter standards than would be the case for a purely private sector operator. This included the level of identification required to qualify as a foreign athlete.
GKL’s CEO emphasized the role of the program, which allows gamblers to choose to “self-ban.” Initial requests typically last three months, while repeat requests last six months. Family-initiated bans are only possible if the person making the request is a bona fide family member and can prove it. “Our goal is to prevent addiction without compromising trust,” Yun said.
GKL is promoting digitalization through a partnership with the Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation (KOMSCO) and technology company Sooho IO. The initiative includes digital watermarking on the SevenLuck Plus mobile app for secure promotion and ticket authentication. Other approaches include investigating digital payment and voucher systems for foreign tourists. AI-driven tools for fair play monitoring, baccarat data logging, and customer behavior analysis.
GKL management said its AI innovation team will pursue integration with predictive data systems, self-service kiosks, and autonomous robots for some service delivery.
“Robotics is no longer a theory,” Yun says. “We are already piloting AI-powered robots in customer service, guidance and multilingual support. These are tied into a broader AI system that monitors matches, fairness and operational efficiency.”
He envisions GKL as the world’s first fully AI-driven casino operator. “Robotics and AI will reduce human error, strengthen fairness, and position the country as a global casino technology innovator. We can contribute not only to tourism, but also to the nation’s industrial competitiveness,” he added.
“Our mission is not to chase scale,” Yun said. “It’s important to operate fairly and strengthen the country’s tourism and industry as a whole.”
