Universal Studios denies it’s coming to Korea

Universal Studios said it is not participating in a theme park project in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi, denying a Dec. 22 announcement by state-run K-Water.

K-Water claimed Universal Studios was participating in a park that would open as early as 2020.

But a source at Universal contacted by the Joongang Ilbo denied the announcement on Wednesday.

“We are not involved in the project,” the source said, “We don’t have any business ties with K-Water.”

In the December announcement, the state-run company said that it picked a Universal Studios Korea consortium led by China’s largest state-run builder, China State Construction Engineering Corporation, and its largest state-run tourist agency, China Travel Services, as a preferred bidder for the project.

With the participation of Universal Studios Korea Property Holdings (USKPH), many expected the U.S. company to be part of the project. In fact, the Korean company no longer has any connection with the U.S. company since the contract expired in 2012.

K-Water says the project will go ahead. “The fact that USKPH is participating in the project means that Universal Studios is interested in the project,” said a K-Water official.

BY KIM MIN-SANG [park.eunjee@joongang.co.kr]