Chang-Woo Han (Han Chang-u) a Zainichi Korean, being born in Sacheon in Korea. In October 1945, at the height of the Second World War, he secretly entered Japan, where he managed to obtain Special Permanent Resident status. He attended Hosei University, studying economics and graduated in 1952.

After leaving university, Han began running a pachinko operation in Kyoto, owned by his brother in law, then in 1972 he founded the Maruhan Corporation. The company, of which Chang-Woo Han is the chairman and CEO has become the largest operator of pachinko parlors in Japan. It also runs cinemas, golf driving ranges and bowling alleys, and owns a Cambodian bank.

Chang-Woo Han who became a Japanese National in 2002 announced his and Maruhan’s plans to develop Dream Island. Built upon reclaimed land on Yeonjong Island off South Korea, the entertainment hub costing $2 billion is expected to open in 2022.