Citizens of Cheongju block the opening of a casino business license even though PC rooms in front of schools are not allowed.
Citizens of Cheongju block the opening of a casino business license even though PC rooms in front of schools are not allowed.
The establishment of a casino in the center of downtown Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, is drawing strong opposition from residents.
Although the planned location is in an educational environment protection zone where even PC room operations are restricted, casinos are not subject to business restrictions under related laws, so education authorities are also in an awkward position.
On the 24th, a banner was hung in front of the Grand Plaza Cheongju Hotel in Yulyang-dong, Cheongwon-gu, Cheongju-si, with the words, ‘We are absolutely against the opening of casinos near schools.’
Flags with similar phrases were blowing in the wind at dozens of flagpoles erected on the road in front of the hotel’s main entrance.
Jang Dong-seok, a resident living nearby, held the first protest here on the 19th, holding a picket that read, ‘What’s with the casino in the city of clean education?’
Mr. Jang’s son and daughter attend Shinheung High School and Juseong Middle School, which are located about 50 and 250 meters away, respectively, from the hotel scheduled to open the casino.
Mr. Jang heard that a casino was coming in last February, but he thought it was impossible for a gambling facility to be located in a hotel next to a school and a road.
He thought it was just a rumor, but when he heard that a foreigner-only casino was actually coming in, he couldn’t stay still.
Residents’ opposition protests began when it became known that Company A, which had been operating a foreigner-only casino business in the Gangwon area, recently signed a three-year lease agreement with the Grand Plaza Cheongju Hotel for 2,500 m2 on the second floor of the hotel for relocation. .
The reason why residents react sensitively to casino openings is because of the special educational environment in this area.
There are a total of 7 kindergartens, elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools within a 600m radius of the hotel, with a total of 5,453 students.
To protect the educational environment for their children, residents also formed the ‘Pan Emergency Response Committee Against Casino Opening’ on March 20, 2024.
There is no legal basis to block the opening of foreigner-only casinos.
The problem is that there is no legal basis to prevent 토토사이트 casinos from opening.
According to the Education and Environment Protection Act, the business of 30 types of businesses, including PC rooms and other game-providing businesses, gambling activities, pollutant-discharging facilities, slaughterhouses, and entertainment facilities, is restricted within a 200m straight line distance from the school boundary.
However, casinos are classified as entertainment facilities and are not subject to business regulations.
Company A, which has already received a foreigner-only casino business license, can enter the hotel and operate without any restrictions as long as it obtains relocation permission from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Woo Jae-myeong, head of the health team at the Chungbuk Office of Education, said that even PC rooms that do not involve a lot of gambling are restricted from operating, but the casino business, which is subject to the Tourism Promotion Act, is not included in gambling facilities.
He explained, “Nearby schools are also opposing the casino’s opening.”
The emergency committee plans to persuade the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which has the authority to approve the relocation, through a citizen signature campaign.
As of the 23rd, about 5,600 people participated in the signature campaign that started on the 8th, well over the target of 2,000.
An emergency committee official said, “In addition to guest rooms, the hotel also has facilities for families, such as a movie theater and a large supermarket.
“It is unsuitable as a casino business location,” he said. “I hope that officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will personally tour the site and understand the situation.”
In response to this, an official from Company A said, “We are preparing to relocate the casino,” but added, “There is nothing else to say.”