Jinju-si Begins Park Golf Construction Project by Namgang River in Geumsan Songbaek-ri

Promoting Expansion Projects for Senior Sports Facilities in Line with Population Aging

Jogyuil, Mayor of Jinju City, Visits Park Golf Construction Site on the Namgang Riverside in Songsong-ri, Geumsan

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] As of December 2020, the elderly population aged 65 and over in Jinju-si, Gyeongnam, was 59,032, accounting for about 16.9% of the total population, and it is increasing every year. In response to the aging population, the city is promoting the expansion of public sports facilities.

On the 4th, the city began construction of customized senior sports facilities on a 77,060㎡ site along the Namgang River at 666-1, Songbaek-ri, Geumsan-myeon, investing 2.54 billion KRW. The project includes a 36-hole park golf course, six gateball courts, two ground golf courses, a multipurpose plaza, and other auxiliary facilities.

Recently, park golf has become a popular sport especially among the elderly, as it is an easy-to-access exercise with simple equipment. In Jinju, about 600 members are active in 14 clubs, and the number of enthusiasts continues to grow.

Mayor Cho Gyu-il, who visited and inspected the senior sports facility site in Songbaek-ri, Geumsan-myeon on the day, stated, “This riverside area has beautiful scenery and clean air. We will create a waterfront-themed park along with the senior sports facilities to make it the best healing place where citizens of all ages can enjoy leisure.”

Meanwhile, since the 7th local government administration, the city has been expanding senior sports facilities. In 2018, a 9-hole park golf course was established and operated within Jinju Sports Complex, and with an investment of 1.24 billion KRW, 15 gateball courts located in eup, myeon, and dong areas, as well as archery and jokgu courts, were improved.

A city official said, “We plan to build senior sports facilities such as ground golf courses and gateball courts at Jinju Sports Park and Sinandong Complex Sports Park,” adding, “We will also improve facilities and create small-scale sports facilities in village-level sports facilities operated in eup, myeon, and dong areas so that all citizens can exercise in a good environment.”