Special Report 1

Yongpyong Resort (Dragon Valley) Center of 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Story of Yongpyong’s Birth

ongpyong Resort, Korea’s first and largest resort complex open year-round, was developed and constructed by Ssangyong E&C. The eyes of the world are on the expansive and luxurious resort as Y Yongpyong is playing host as the official venue for competitions at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, which commenced on February 9, 2018. Constructed in 1973 on the hills of Balwang Mountain in , Gangwon Province, is Korea’s very first with modern facilities. The resort began to actively host international winter sporting events from 1991, establishing itself as a regular host for high-profile events such as the Yongpyong Peace Cup FIS Alpine Ski Competition, FIS Alpine Ski World Cup events and the Winter Asian Games. This helped expand the country’s presence in the international winter sports scene, and unquestionably made a critical contribution to Pyeongchang’s successful bid for the Winter Olympics.

Overview of Yongpyong Ski Resort •Total area: 17,160,000 ㎡ •Total land area: 3,436,877 ㎡ •Total slope area: 1,103,449 ㎡ •Total slope length: 29.1 km •Total lift length: 13.6 km •Number of slopes: 28 •Number of lifts: 14

[Full view of Yongpyong Ski Resort (Provided by Yongpyong Resort)] Korea’s First“ and Largest Resort Complex for All Seasons, Yongpyong Resort Constructed by Ssangyong E&C (Dragon Valley) Center of 2018 Pyeongchang ” Story of Yongpyong’s Birth

[Full view of Yongpyong Resort (Provided by Yongpyong Resort)]

[Yongpyong Ski Resort, one of the official venues at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics]

Ssangyong NEWS 08/09 Residents of Pyeongchang erect a commemorative“ sculpture to honor former President Seok Won Kim of Ssayong Group and celebrate his invaluable contribution in hosting the Winter Olympics ” [Yongpyong Ski Resort, one of the official venues at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics]

sangyong E&C’s successful resort, complete with snow makers, however, did not grow in proportion to endeavors in the leisure industry, three ski lifts in operation and 1,500 sets the massive facility investments, and the S including the construction of of ski gear for rental service, heralded resort complex struggled to stay afloat Yongpyong Resort, owe much to the the arrival of a full-service ski resort in as a viable business. vision and passion of former President Seok Won Kim of Ssangyong Group. Mr. Kim, upon the announcement of the government’s plan for developing the area into a tourism complex in the 1970s, conceived this ambitious vision of building a world- class ski resort in the region. In April 1973, Yooguk Development was established, and the construction of Korea’s first ski resort commenced in Yongsan-ri, Doam-myeon in Pyeongchang County. Yooguk Development opened a ski slope in July 1974 and Juhwa Tourist Hotel in December 1975, adding Juwon Hotel (presently, Yongpyong Youth Hostel) to the list of facilities in December 1976. Finally, the ski slope was transformed into a resort complex with the addition of the outdoor swimming pool in [Full view of Birch Hill Condominium] August 1977. The ambitious project progressed with the construction of a 3.3 million- Korea. In December 1981, Ssangyong E&C square meter ski resort 750 meters up The popularity of leisure and absorbed the struggling Yooguk on Balwang Mountain. The new ski recreational activities in the country, Development and established the [Full view of Yongpyong Ski Resort]

Yongpyong Resort Business Division, the . the foundation for the community’s which took over the management With the opening ceremony for the successful bid for hosting the Winter and operations of the resort. Until Winter Olympics only a fortnight Olympics with the development of the business division was absorbed away, a commemorative sculpture was Yongpyong Resort. Confirming that by Ssangyong Cement in June 1987, unveiled on January 29, 2018 in honor all members of the community were Ssangyong E&C also carried out the of Ssangyong Group’s former president on board for the project, the area’s construction projects for the resort Seok Won Kim at the front lawn of the residents began organizing the sculpture expediently as internal projects, Pyeongchang . committee and initiating the discussion expanding its portfolio and capability in What made the event all the more with the Pyeongchang Organizing leisure sector construction in the process. Committee. Between 1998 and 1990, Ssangyong The community members who had E&C successfully overcame the tight gathered at the unveiling event all voiced 20-month schedule for phase four of their agreement by saying, “President the Yongpyong Resort construction Kim was a visionary who transformed project, completing the 203-unit the Daegwallyeong area into a world- condominium tower and the 412-unit class winter sports destination, and villa condominium complex composed one of the less-publicized but crucially of 33 individual buildings. important contributors behind After completing an 18-hole golf Pyeongchang’s successful bid for hosting course, club house and fitness center, the 2018 Winter Olympics.” The Ssangyong E&C constructed Birch Hill, sculpture committee also emphasized an upscale, villa-style condominium Mr. Kim’s contribution and vision by along the exquisite birch forest that stating, “If he had not followed through compliments the skyline of Yongpyong. with his dream of constructing a ski The country’s top luxury condominium [Sculpture commemorating the contribution resort, our dream of hosting the Winter featuring 450 units across 41 buildings of former President Seok Won Kim of Olympics would have been impossible was the final piece that completed the Ssangyong Group] to achieve.” world-class facility, which will serve meaningful was that the people of as the core infrastructure that enabled Pyeongchang came together and took Pyeongchang’s successful bid for hosting initiative to honor Mr. Kim for building Ssangyong NEWS 10/11