New casinos are scheduled to open in Seoul and Busan, Korea's first-and second-largest metropolitan cities and major tourist destinations.

Three new casinos, to be managed by its own subsidiary, will open in December 2005 and in spring 2006.

The Korean government decided last September to open new casinos where visitors can enjoy more quality time during their trip to Korea. The decision was followed by an announcement to open two casinos in Seoul, one in the Millennium Seoul Hilton in downtown Seoul and the other in Oakwood Premier COEX Center in Gangnam area, and one in Busan, in the Lotte Hotel.

The existing casinos in Seoul and Busan are located on the perimeters of the city and offer VIP services, making it difficult for regular tourists to visit. However, the new casinos will be located in the centers of Seoul and Busan, giving them easy access.

The casinos will be managed as 'tourist' venues targeting the general tourist population as its main clientele, giving visitors who previously had no access to enjoy casinos a chance to do so on their trip to Korea.