Jogyuil Jinju Mayor Visits Site of Disabled Cultural and Sports Center Construction

Expectations for Promoting Sports for the Disabled through the Construction of a Gymnasium Exclusively for People with Disabilities

Joo Kyu-il, Mayor of Jinju City, Visits the Construction Site of the Disabled Culture and Sports Center [Image Source=Jinju City]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] On the 20th, Jinju Mayor Cho Gyu-il visited the construction site of the Disabled Culture and Sports Center along with executives of the Jinju Disabled Persons' Federation to check the progress in celebration of the 41st Disabled Persons' Day.

The construction of the Disabled Culture and Sports Center is a campaign pledge by Mayor Cho to support disabled people who have faced difficulties in sports activities due to the lack of dedicated sports facilities. Selected in 2019 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's public contest, it secured 4.8 billion KRW in national and local government funds, with a total project cost of 13.5 billion KRW. The center will be built with a total floor area of 4,419㎡, consisting of one basement floor and two above-ground floors.

The main facilities include an aquatic exercise room and swimming pool for disabled rehabilitation and the general public on the first floor, as well as a gymnasium for table tennis and wheelchair basketball. On the second floor, there will be a fitness center for physical strength improvement, a fitness measurement area, a multipurpose room, and rest facilities such as a cafeteria and a small library.

Starting with a feasibility study and basic planning service in 2019, the basic and detailed design services were completed last year through an architectural design competition, and the center is currently scheduled for completion in 2022.

Heo Han-young, president of the Jinju Disabled Persons' Federation who joined the site inspection, said, "Once the Culture and Sports Center is built, it is expected to become a premium gymnasium where not only the health of disabled people is improved but all citizens can enjoy together."

Mayor Cho, who inspected the construction site, requested, "Please ensure thorough progress in the project so that the Disabled Culture and Sports Center, built to promote sports and cultural activities and health improvement for disabled people, is convenient for use by both disabled and non-disabled individuals."