Yonhap News Agency, tasked with promoting Korea’s image and dispatching news and information to international media organizations, has recently released excerpts from a written interview with Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority [MTGA] President Bobby Soper discussing the proposed $5 Billion Incheon Airport Resort – Inspire.

The S. Korean integrated casino concept would be built on Incheon land – 7,000 miles away from Mohegan’s Sun Casino, yet Soper admits it is the perfect location for developing MTGA’s first integrated resort outside North America, stating “this is the first opportunity we felt compelling enough to pursue.”

Yeongjong Island, about 30 square miles and adjacent to and owned by Incheon International Airport, is closer to most Northern Chinese cities than Macau – and is considered a premium gaming location for Asian high-rollers. Soper is hopeful, however, that the resort will be open to Korean residents as well – as currently 16 of Korea’s 17 casinos are not open to the local people.

With so much potential for tourism beyond gambling, the Mohegan Inspire proposal focuses on non-gaming elements also, including a theme park and entertainment venues. And since the Incheon airport accommodates more than 45 million passengers a year, interconnection between resort and airport provides unprecedented international guest access.

As competition heats up from a significant number of other interested bidders, Soper has stayed busy developing partnerships to form a consortium of local and international business expertise and finance. Synergistic relationships have become a major business strategy for the Mohegan Tribe and has helped to strengthen their position as a qualified candidate for the Incheon partnership.