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  • Inspire Entertainment Resort in South Korea will soon have a new CEO
  • Inspire has underwhelmed compared with its preopening forecasts
  • The casino is located at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport

Inspire Entertainment Resort will have a new chief executive beginning in December.

Inspire Korea casino Bain Capital
Inspire Entertainment Resort in South Korea will soon have a new chief executive. The property envisioned and built by Mohegan is now owned by Bain Capital. (Image: Inspire Entertainment Resort)

Officials with Inspire, which was taken over by Bain Capital in February after Mohegan defaulted on a loan issued by the privately held global investment firm, have announced that South Korean businessman Gyubum Ko will become CEO of the casino resort effective Dec. 1, 2025. Ko will replace current CEO Chen Si, who will remain in the role until Ko’s arrival to ensure “a smooth and seamless leadership transition.”

Ko is a veteran business executive, though his career has largely been in the medical and pharmaceuticals industries, with stints at Johnson & Johnson and Procter & Gamble’s overseas offices. He’ll now be tasked with improving the fiscal health of a gravely sick integrated resort casino where business has greatly underwhelmed preopening expectations.

I am truly excited to join Inspire at such a dynamic time of growth in the global casino and integrated resort industry. Drawing on international experience and customer insights gained in diverse business environments, I look forward to working closely with Inspire’s talented team to drive innovation, deep customer engagement, and deliver long-term value for our guests, employees, and stakeholders,” Ko said.

Bain Capital Partner Ohsang Kwon in the company’s Seoul office thanked Chen for his leadership during the resort’s construction and opening. Inspire opened adjacent to Incheon International Airport in March 2024.

Resort Uninspired

Mohegan made a $1.6 billion bet that a foreigners-only casino at Seoul’s primary airport would prosper. The commercial gaming company of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut had future plans to expand the destination through $3.4 billion in subsequent investment phases.

The $1.6 billion first phase included a five-star hotel with 1,275 guestrooms and suites, 11 restaurants, five lounges, a 15K-seat arena, a shopping mall, an indoor water park, and an immersive indoor street. Subsequent phases were to include an indoor walkway connecting Inspire to the airport terminal, a Paramount Studios theme park, and a large exhibition center.

The leadup to Inspire’s opening came with much fanfare. But the resort’s casino, with 159 table games, 395 slot machines, and 195-seat electronic table game stadium, hasn’t lured the high-roller clientele from China and Japan it was designed to attract.

Koreans and residents are prohibited from gambling at Inspire. Mohegan said it lost $112 million running Inspire in 2024.

Optimism Remains 

Bain Capital, which is reportedly shopping Inspire, continues to speak positively about the resort and its outlook.

The resort welcomed four million visitors in its first year of operation and has established itself as a leading entertainment destination for staycationers, tourists, convention guests, and global music fans,” said Ohsang.  

“We are confident that Ko’s leadership, combining international experience and deep market insight, will further enhance that momentum. Bain Capital is excited to continue working closely with Inspire’s management team to continue investing in the resort’s long-term growth and operational excellence,” Ohsang added.

The post Inspire Taps Korean Businessman to Lead Struggling Casino Resort at Incheon International appeared first on Casino.org.

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