Choi Hung-jib, 60, was named the new CEO of Kangwon Land, a resort and casino in Gangwon Province, on Tuesday.

The move makes the former vice governor of Gangwon the seventh president of the nation’s only casino for locals, established in 2008 in Jeongseon, 214 kilometers east of Seoul. 

“The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be an opportunity for Kangwon Land to leap to a global brand name,” Choi said Wednesday during a press conference.

“If infrastructures including the road connecting the PyeongChang-Jeongseon area are completed, Kangwon Land will benefit from the ripple effect of the international sports event.”

Choi, native to the mountainous area in the eastern part of the country, majored in business administration at Kwandong University and received a master’s degree in political science at Gangwon Graduate School of Public Administration.

After building administrative careers at the local government office, he served as Gangwon Province’s vice governor of public affairs between 2008 and 2009.

During the April 27 by-elections, he was also a backup candidate for Gangwon governor of the ruling Grand National Party.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldcorp.com)