Lotte Tour Development

Lotte Tour Development is a South Korean casino and hospitality operator, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Seoul. A subsidiary of the Lotte Group (one of South Korea's largest chaebols), the company operates Jeju Dream Tower — a major integrated resort and casino on Jeju Island, featuring the Jeju Dream Tower Casino, luxury hotels, and extensive entertainment facilities. Lotte Tour Development is listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX: 082660) and is a significant player in the South Korean foreigner-only casino market, particularly on Jeju Island.

Lotte Tour's flagship property, Jeju Dream Tower, opened in 2020 and is Jeju Island's tallest building and largest integrated resort. The property features 1,600+ hotel rooms (Grand Hyatt Jeju), 150+ gaming tables, electronic gaming machines, 20+ restaurants and bars, retail shops, a water park, and extensive entertainment venues. Jeju Dream Tower Casino is a foreigner-only casino, catering to international visitors to Jeju Island — one of South Korea's most popular tourist destinations.

Lotte Tour Development is licensed and regulated by the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) under the Tourism Promotion Act. The company also operates Lotte Hotel Jeju and previously operated the Paradise Casino Jeju Grand (now part of Jeju Dream Tower operations). Lotte Tour competes with Paradise Co Ltd (Paradise Jeju) and other Jeju-based foreigner-only casinos, targeting Chinese, Japanese, and other international visitors to Jeju Island.

Jeju Dream Tower

Jeju Dream Tower is Lotte Tour's flagship property and Jeju Island's tallest building and largest integrated resort, opened in 2020. The property features 1,600+ hotel rooms (operated as Grand Hyatt Jeju), 150+ gaming tables (baccarat, blackjack, roulette, poker), electronic gaming machines, 20+ restaurants and bars, retail shops, a water park, entertainment venues, and observation decks. Jeju Dream Tower is a major destination for international visitors to Jeju Island and represents a significant investment in Jeju's tourism infrastructure.

Jeju Dream Tower Casino

Jeju Dream Tower Casino is the casino within Jeju Dream Tower, and is Jeju Island's largest foreigner-only casino. The casino features 150+ gaming tables (baccarat, blackjack, roulette, poker, sic bo), electronic gaming machines, multiple VIP gaming rooms, and premium gaming facilities. The casino caters to international visitors to Jeju Island, particularly Chinese and Japanese tourists, and is positioned as a premium gaming destination on Jeju.

Grand Hyatt Jeju

Grand Hyatt Jeju is the luxury hotel within Jeju Dream Tower, operated by Hyatt Hotels Corporation in partnership with Lotte Tour. The hotel features 1,600+ rooms and suites, multiple restaurants and bars, a spa and fitness center, meeting and event spaces, and access to the Jeju Dream Tower facilities. Grand Hyatt Jeju is one of the largest luxury hotels on Jeju Island and complements the casino operations as part of the integrated resort offering.

Lotte Hotel Jeju

Lotte Tour also operates Lotte Hotel Jeju, a luxury resort hotel on Jeju Island. The property features hotel rooms, restaurants, a golf course, and resort facilities. Lotte Hotel Jeju is a separate property from Jeju Dream Tower and serves the luxury resort market on Jeju Island. The hotel complements the Jeju Dream Tower operations and provides Lotte Tour with a broader presence on Jeju.

Water Park & Entertainment

Jeju Dream Tower features a water park and extensive entertainment facilities, including retail shops, restaurants, bars, and observation decks with views of Jeju Island. The non-gaming offerings are designed to attract families and non-gaming tourists to Jeju Dream Tower, complementing the casino operations and positioning the property as a full integrated resort rather than just a casino.

VIP & International Customer Focus

Lotte Tour focuses on VIP international gaming, particularly targeting Chinese and Japanese high-rollers visiting Jeju Island. The company operates VIP rooms and offers premium services for high-rolling international customers. Jeju Dream Tower's location on Jeju Island — a popular destination for Chinese tourists due to visa-free entry — provides Lotte Tour with access to a large international VIP customer base. The company has adapted to regulatory changes in the VIP gaming market, including the decline of traditional junket operations.

1989 — Foundation

Lotte Tour Development was founded in 1989 as a subsidiary of the Lotte Group, one of South Korea's largest chaebols (conglomerates). The company was established to develop tourism and hospitality operations in South Korea, with a focus on Jeju Island. The foundation coincided with South Korea's efforts to develop its tourism industry and Jeju Island's emergence as a major tourist destination.

1990s-2000s — Lotte Hotel Jeju Operations

Lotte Tour operated Lotte Hotel Jeju in the 1990s and 2000s, establishing itself as a luxury hospitality operator on Jeju Island. The property featured a luxury hotel, golf course, and resort facilities, and served the growing tourism market on Jeju. The operations established Lotte Tour's presence on Jeju Island and provided a foundation for the later Jeju Dream Tower development.

2014 — KRX Listing

Lotte Tour was listed on the Korea Exchange (KRX: 082660) in 2014, becoming a publicly traded company. The listing provided capital for the Jeju Dream Tower development and established Lotte Tour as a major South Korean listed company. The Lotte Group remained the largest shareholder, preserving Lotte Tour's chaebol subsidiary status.

2016-2020 — Jeju Dream Tower Development

Lotte Tour developed Jeju Dream Tower in 2016-2020, a major integrated resort and casino on Jeju Island. The development was one of the largest tourism investments in Jeju's history, with a total investment of approximately KRW 1.2 trillion (US$1 billion). Jeju Dream Tower was designed as Jeju's premier integrated resort, featuring luxury hotels, a casino, restaurants, retail, and entertainment facilities.

2020 — Jeju Dream Tower Opening

Jeju Dream Tower opened in 2020, featuring Grand Hyatt Jeju (1,600+ rooms), Jeju Dream Tower Casino (150+ gaming tables), and extensive entertainment facilities. The opening established Jeju Dream Tower as Jeju Island's tallest building and largest integrated resort. However, the opening coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which severely impacted international tourism to Jeju.

2020-2021 — COVID-19 Impact

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Lotte Tour, with international tourism to Jeju Island largely halted. The company faced significant financial challenges due to the high fixed costs of the newly opened Jeju Dream Tower and the lack of international visitors. Lotte Tour adapted by focusing on domestic visitors (where permitted) and implementing cost-saving measures.

2022-2024 — Recovery & Growth

Lotte Tour benefited from the recovery of international tourism post-COVID-19, particularly with the return of Chinese and Japanese visitors to Jeju Island. The company continued to invest in Jeju Dream Tower and expanded its casino and entertainment operations. The recovery positioned Jeju Dream Tower as a major integrated resort on Jeju and established Lotte Tour as a significant player in the South Korean casino market.

Lotte Tour Development is committed to responsible gambling under the regulatory oversight of the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), with comprehensive player protection measures and strict compliance with South Korea's casino regulations.

Regulatory Compliance

Lotte Tour operates under licenses from the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) under the Tourism Promotion Act. South Korea's casino industry is unique in that domestic casinos are restricted to foreign passport holders only (with the sole exception of Kangwon Land). Lotte Tour is required to verify foreign passport/ID at entry and enforce the foreigner-only restriction at Jeju Dream Tower Casino.

Player Protection Measures

• Age Verification: Strict 19+ age verification (South Korean legal gambling age) at entry to Jeju Dream Tower Casino. Only foreign passport holders are permitted entry.
• Passport/ID Verification: All patrons must present a foreign passport or foreign registration card for entry, to verify foreigner status. South Korean citizens are prohibited from entering domestic casinos (except Kangwon Land).
• Self-Exclusion: Players can voluntarily exclude themselves from Jeju Dream Tower Casino. South Korea also operates government-run self-exclusion programs for foreign nationals.
• Staff Training: All customer-facing staff complete responsible gambling training, including identification of problem gambling behavior and intervention procedures.
• Information Resources: Responsible gambling information is displayed prominently throughout Jeju Dream Tower Casino, with contact details for problem gambling support services.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Compliance

Lotte Tour implements AML and KYC procedures in compliance with South Korean regulations and international standards. The company conducts customer due diligence, transaction monitoring, and suspicious activity reporting. South Korea's AML regulations are enforced by the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit (KoFIU), and Lotte Tour is required to comply with all AML/KYC obligations.

Foreigner-Only Casino Restriction

Lotte Tour operates under South Korea's foreigner-only casino restriction, which prohibits South Korean citizens from entering domestic casinos (with the sole exception of Kangwon Land). Lotte Tour is required to verify foreign passport/ID at entry and enforce the restriction. The restriction is a key feature of South Korea's casino regulatory framework and is strictly enforced.