Eight Nationwide Soccer Tournaments Held This Year
Annual Economic Impact of 20 Billion Won
Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 13th that nationwide soccer tournaments are revitalizing the local economy. The Spring National High School Soccer Tournament, along with the Autumn Tournament, is an official competition hosted by the Korea Football Association and has been held in Hapcheon-gun since 2021. So far, 317 teams and over 12,400 players have participated.
At the ‘2024 Spring National High School Soccer Tournament,’ which concluded its 15-day schedule in Hapcheon on the 1st, a large number of high school, academy, club, and professional youth teams from across the country participated, not only enhancing the quality of the tournament but also significantly contributing to the revitalization of the local economy.
During the tournament, the extended stay of players and visitors contributed to increased sales for small business owners in lodging, restaurants, and retail sectors. It was estimated that about 2,000 people, including players, referees, and parents (with a cumulative visitor count of around 30,000), visited the county during this event.
According to internal county data and surveys of participating teams, the average daily expenditure per person was 59,000 KRW for players and 97,000 KRW for referees and parents. Including consumer spending on lodging and meals, the total economic activation effect is estimated to exceed 3 billion KRW. In addition to the direct effects of participants’ consumer spending, the ripple effects of hosting a national tournament are also analyzed to be substantial.
As an indirect effect, the tournament generates an ‘employment creation inducement effect’ by hiring about 450 auxiliary staff members over the course of the event. In the long term, it influences local industrial production and consumption, creating employment in various sectors such as restaurants, lodging, food products, and retail.
Above all, the successful hosting of the tournament has enhanced the status of Hapcheon as a soccer mecca city and contributed to establishing the identity of ‘Chugu City Hapcheon.’ Notably, despite the uncertainty of hosting future tournaments due to flood damage in 2020, the dedicated efforts of the administration and soccer community led to proactive sports marketing focused on ‘rebuilding soccer infrastructure and hosting tournaments for regional economic recovery,’ resulting in the successful hosting of a national tournament in 2021.
The county had early on chosen the potential of the sports industry as a driving force for revitalizing the local economy alongside the tourism industry. To implement sports marketing strategies, the county unified organizational departments and strengthened operational capabilities. Following a soccer specialization policy, it expanded soccer infrastructure from the original 4 stadiums to 12 international-standard stadiums and established various human networks including the Hapcheon-gun Football Association and the Sports Council.
As a result, starting with the Muhakgi National High School Soccer Tournament in 2006, Hapcheon has continuously hosted over 35 nationwide soccer tournaments over 17 years, injecting vitality into the local economy.
County Governor Kim Yoon-cheol said, “This year alone, there will be eight nationwide soccer tournaments lasting a total of about 120 days, and many players and tourists are expected to visit during this period, which bodes well for revitalizing local businesses.” He added, “We will continue to uphold the reputation of Chugu City through active sports marketing and successful tournament hosting, focusing on revitalizing the local economy.”
Meanwhile, the county is preparing to host the 29th Muhakgi National High School Soccer Tournament (June), the 32nd Queen’s National Women’s Soccer Tournament (June), and the 2024 Autumn National High School Soccer Tournament (July), with the economic inducement effect from hosting these events expected to reach 20 billion KRW annually.
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