Jeonbuk Provincial Sports Festival 'Jeonju City' Overall Victory... Best Player Jeon Juhee

'Festival of Friendship and Harmony in Sports' in Gimje

Gimje City ranks 2nd overall... Gochang County wins Best Entrance Award

Over 10,000 athletes compete in 39 events over 3 days

The 60th Jeonbuk Provincial Sports Festival successfully concluded on the evening of the 3rd with a closing ceremony held at the Gimje National Sports Center.

The event opened on the 1st and was held over three days under the slogan "Golden Hope Jeollabuk-do, Together in Gimje," with competitions taking place at various venues for each sport.

After fierce competition among over 10,000 athletes from 39 events across 14 cities and counties, Jeonju City claimed the overall championship, followed by Gimje City in second place and Jeongeup City in third. Iksan City and Gunsan City took fourth and fifth places, respectively.

The 60th Jeonbuk Provincial Sports Festival successfully concluded on the evening of the 3rd with a closing ceremony held at the Gimje National Sports Center.
[Photo by Gimje City]

At the grand opening ceremony held on the 1st at the Gimje Citizens' Stadium, Gochang County attracted attention with the most impressive performance during the entrance of city and county teams, winning first place in the entrance award. Buan County and Imsil County took second and third places, respectively.

The coveted Most Valuable Player award of this festival was honored to Jeon Ju-hee (Samnye Elementary School, Grade 3) from Wanju County, who competed in the Taekwondo event. The Jeonbuk Soft Tennis Association and Jeonbuk Park Golf Association received the exemplary game team awards.

The closing ceremony began with a pre-ceremony performance and viewing of key videos from the Provincial Sports Festival, followed by the announcement of competition results and overall awards. The festival flag was then handed over to Sunchang County, the host of next year’s festival, followed by the closing declaration and extinguishing of the flame.

This year’s Provincial Sports Festival was praised for providing a variety of attractions and opening a successful sports festival.

At the opening ceremony, 1,600 seats were arranged in front of the stage for citizens, allowing athletes to feel the direct support of the public as they entered, while citizens enjoyed a vivid view of the athletes’ entrance up close.

The highlight of the opening ceremony, the lighting of the flame, was performed together by Lee Seung-heon and his eight children, a large family, along with Jeong So-young, a badminton women’s doubles gold medalist from the Barcelona Olympics and native of Gimje, and Yoo In-tak, a wrestling gold medalist from the LA Olympics.

Following the flame lighting, a spectacular drone show using 300 drones, fireworks, and a popular singer’s congratulatory performance captivated the audience with various attractions.

The event also featured booths promoting agricultural specialties, displaying and selling various local products produced within the province. More than 25,000 people, including athletes, visited Gimje, greatly contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.

Jung Sung-joo, Mayor of Gimje City, expressed gratitude, saying, "I thank the Provincial Sports Council, city and county sports councils, volunteers, and many others who worked hard to successfully hold the event. We will use the passion and hope shared during the festival as an opportunity for Gimje City to further develop and leap forward."

Jung Gang-seon, Chairman of the Provincial Sports Council, stated, "We ask for the unwavering support and interest of the residents so that the Jeonbuk athletes can perform well at the National Sports Festival to be held across Jeonnam in October."