Editor's note: This version corrects Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority President Bobby Soper's job title and corrects the name of Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.

The Mohegan Tribe’s gaming ambitions are apparently global in scope.

Bobby Soper, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority’s president, confirmed Wednesday that Mohegan officials have met with Korean interests regarding the development of a resort casino near Seoul, South Korea.

“We did make a visit to Korea and had discussions,” Soper said. “What we discussed is confidential … It’s a bit preliminary.”

Soper said Kevin Brown, chairman of the Mohegan Tribal Council, and Mario Kontomerkos, the tribal gaming authority’s chief financial officer, traveled to Korea “several weeks ago.”

Soper would not say whom Brown and Kontomerkos met with.

Online versions of Korean news publications carried reports Wednesday that the Grand Korea Leisure Corp., a subsidiary of the Korea Tourism Organization, will join with Mohegan Sun to build a resort casino on Yeongjong Island, west of Seoul. The deal reportedly calls for a two-phase project with a total cost of about $1.8 billion, according to The Korea Economic Daily. The casino would be completed by 2020.

Another publication, The Korea Times, reported that Grand Korea Leisure denied it had reached an agreement with Mohegan Sun.

"The reports are not true," the company said in a statement, according to The Korea Times report. “A feasibility study and many other kinds of initial research regarding a casino business on Yeongjong Island are under way. But nothing has been decided, including any business partners or investors."

Soper would neither confirm nor deny the Korean media reports.

“We’re looking at all opportunities outside the U.S.,” he said. “None that I can comment on at this time.”

Grand Korea Leisure operates the Seven Luck Casino, one of about a dozen Korean casinos that cater to foreigners.

Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan area is one of the most populous in the world. The city hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics.

The Mohegans, who own Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, have been frustrated by failed attempts to win casino licenses in Massachusetts and New York. They also own and operate Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and manage Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City. They are partnering with the Cowlitz Indian Tribe on a proposed casino project that the Mohegans would manage in Washington state.

The Mohegans also are backing a bill in the Connecticut legislature that would enable them to open up to three more casinos in the state in partnership with the Mashantucket Pequots, who own Foxwoods Resort Casino.

b.hallenbeck@theday.com

Twitter: @bjhallenbeck