Changwon City Invests 50 Billion Won to Create 'Ssireum Sanctuary, Changwon'

Promoting Ssireum as a Tourism Cultural Asset

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kang Woo-kwon] Changwon City in Gyeongnam announced on the 18th at the City Hall Press Center the 'Sacred Place of Ssireum, Changwon' development plan to foster Ssireum as a regional representative cultural asset and turn it into a tourism resource.

The city stated that it plans to invest 45 billion KRW to expand Ssireum infrastructure and 5 billion KRW to establish the foundation and spread the base of Ssireum, a traditional folk sport, aiming to continue the reputation of 'Ssireum's hometown Masan' as the 'Sacred Place of Ssireum, Changwon.'

First, the city secured 25.5 billion KRW in national funds out of the total 45 billion KRW project budget to redevelop the Masan Seowongok Ssireum Arena, establish the Ssireum History Museum, build a dedicated Ssireum stadium, and develop a fitness training course for the Ssireum training team.

The city plans to rebuild the historically significant Seowongok Ssireum Arena in Masan with a project budget of 15 billion KRW into a three-story building with four blocks and a total floor area of 1,743㎡, making it the nation's top training hub for Ssireum athletes.

Additionally, the city explained that it will invest 10 billion KRW to establish the nation's first Ssireum History Museum, exhibiting the history of Ssireum registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, biographies of past Cheonhajangsa champions, busts of famous players, and personal items of Cheonhajangsa champions, as well as providing Ssireum experience facilities for tourists.

Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon said, "We ask for the active interest and cooperation of citizens so that Changwon can restore its reputation as the birthplace of Ssireum by fully embracing the identity and symbolism of Ssireum in the Changwon area, become the sacred place of Ssireum, and achieve economic revival."