Kangwon Land opens M650 mining museum after KRW80bn conversion of Sabuk site
The M650 museum cost KRW80 billion (US$59.8m) and held its official opening on 7 October 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Kangwon Land Inc officially opened the M650 mining museum on 7 October 2026 after a soft opening on 1 October.
- The conversion of the former Sabuk mine cost approximately KRW80 billion (US$59.8 million) and began in 2021.
- The Sabuk mine operated from 1962 to 2004 and the project preserved original structures including offices and a mine-shaft tower.
- Kangwon Land Inc is required by the 1995 Special Act to contribute 13 percent of casino revenue to an Abandoned Mine Fund.
Kangwon Land Inc has officially opened the M650 coal-mining museum after converting the former Sabuk mine at a cost of approximately KRW80 billion (US$59.8 million). The casino operator held the ceremony on Wednesday 7 October 2026; the attraction had a soft opening on 1 October, the company said.
M650 mining museum: location, cost and opening
The M650 mining museum occupies a decommissioned coal-mining site 2.4 kilometres from Kangwon Land Inc’s casino complex in Jeongseon county, Gangwon province. Kangwon Land Inc confirmed the investment figure to GGRAsia and said development began in 2021. The company describes the name as literal: the "M" stands for both "mine" and "museum", while "650" refers to the site's altitude of 650 metres.
The project involved the renovation and preservation of structures at the former Sabuk mine, which operated from 1962 until its closure in 2004. Kangwon Land retained original office buildings, shower facilities and a mine-shaft tower as part of the visitor experience.
What visitors will see at the M650 mining museum
Exhibits emphasise miners' working conditions and daily life at Sabuk. The site includes a café converted from a former hoist facility and an operational visitor ride through the 650 mine tunnel in restored mine carts.
Key attractions and preserved elements:
museum exhibits on miners' working conditions and daily lives
a mine-cart ride through the "650 mine tunnel"
preserved offices, shower rooms and a mine-shaft tower
a café in the former hoist building
The company said the site has passed a provincial review and it is pursuing national cultural heritage registration for the former mining area.
Kangwon Land and regional obligations under the Special Act
Kangwon Land Inc operates the only casino in South Korea open to local players, trading under the name Kangwon Land for its casino complex that opened in 2000. That casino was established under South Korea's 1995 Special Act on the Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas.
Under the legislation, Kangwon Land Inc is required to contribute 13 percent of its casino revenue to an Abandoned Mine Fund. The museum investment was presented by the company as part of its historical ties to the former coal-mining region around Jeongseon.
Strategic and organisational context at Kangwon Land Inc
Kangwon Land Inc has framed the M650 project as an extension of its regional role. The company said it recently formed a committee to review major strategic initiatives and organisational matters under its new chief executive, Kim Do-gyun. The museum was cited by company staff as reflecting an identity linked to local abandoned coal mines in interviews with GGRAsia.
The conversion from an industrial site that closed in 2004 to a public cultural attraction required structural renovation and interpretation planning. Kangwon Land began that process in 2021 and staged a soft opening on 1 October ahead of the official 7 October ceremony.
Implications for tourism and heritage in Gangwon province
The museum adds a cultural tourism asset close to Kangwon Land's casino complex, potentially broadening the site's appeal beyond gaming. Kangwon Land's pursuit of national cultural heritage registration, which followed a successful provincial review, could secure a longer-term preservation mandate for the Sabuk site.
If national registration is granted, the site would move from a locally recognised former-industrial location to formal heritage status under South Korean cultural protections. The company has not published a timetable for the registration process.
Practical details and next steps
The M650 museum lies 2.4 kilometres — about 1.5 miles — from Kangwon Land's casino in Jeongseon county. Development work focused on preserving authentic mining structures while adapting the site for public access. Kangwon Land confirmed the KRW80 billion (US$59.8 million) figure to GGRAsia and said the investment reflects both conservation and local development goals.
Kangwon Land's casino business and the Abandoned Mine Fund obligation remain central to the company's financial and social remit under the 1995 Special Act. The new committee under chief executive Kim Do-gyun will review strategic initiatives including projects such as M650.
For operators and investors tracking non-gaming diversification among casino companies, the M650 project is an example of capital being deployed into regional cultural infrastructure adjacent to an operational casino. Readers can find related coverage in our news and events sections.
"The investment reflects Kangwon Land Inc's historical ties to the former coal-mining region," the company said in a statement to GGRAsia.
The company has not released visitor targets or operational revenue projections for the museum.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the M650 mining museum officially open and when was the soft opening?
The M650 mining museum held its official opening ceremony on 7 October 2026 and had a soft opening on 1 October 2026, according to Kangwon Land Inc.
How much did Kangwon Land spend to convert the Sabuk mine into the M650 museum?
Kangwon Land Inc invested approximately KRW80 billion, equivalent to US$59.8 million, in the development and renovation of the former Sabuk mine site.
What elements of the Sabuk mine were preserved for the museum?
The project preserved original structures including offices, shower facilities and a mine-shaft tower, and it features exhibits on miners' working conditions, a mine-cart ride through the 650 mine tunnel and a café in a former hoist facility.
What legal obligation ties Kangwon Land to abandoned-mine funding?
Kangwon Land Inc must contribute 13 percent of its casino revenue to an Abandoned Mine Fund under South Korea's 1995 Special Act on the Assistance to the Development of Abandoned Mine Areas.
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