Meeting of Technology and Sports... Gumi City Heats Up the Local Economy

National Skills Competition and Korea-China-Japan Junior Comprehensive Games to Be Held

This summer, Gumi City is invigorating the local economy by hosting various national and international competitions.

Poster of the 59th National Skills Competition 2024.

In early August, the National Youth Soccer Tournament concluded successfully, and at the end of August, the 59th National Skills Competition and the 32nd Korea-China-Japan Junior Sports Competition will be held.

The National Skills Competition will take place from August 24 to 30 for seven days across four cities?Gumi, Pohang, Gyeongju, and Andong?under the theme "Technology Explodes in Gyeongbuk."

In Gumi, the main host city, the opening and closing ceremonies will be held at Park Chunghee Gymnasium, and various matches will take place at three venues, including GumiCo and Kumoh Technical High School. Over 10,000 people, including about 1,150 athletes, coaches, and event officials from 17 cities and provinces, are expected to visit Gumi.

Top skills will be showcased in 31 trades, including drone control, fashion design, and ceramics. The event will also feature open stadium operations and a variety of side events, attracting many visitors to Gumi.

In particular, this competition offers opportunities to learn and practice specialized skills such as operating heavy equipment simulators, making desk clocks and mood lamps, and experiencing skin care and hair design.

In addition, various programs such as AI mock interviews, MBTI career counseling, and drone soccer tournaments are prepared, making this event more than just a festival for skilled professionals but also a meaningful opportunity to explore future career paths.

The Korea-China-Japan Junior Sports Competition will be held for seven days from August 25 to 31 as a sports exchange festival for youth athletes from the three Asian countries.

Poster of the 32nd Korea-China-Japan Junior Comprehensive Sports Competition.

About 1,000 youth athletes and officials from Korea, China, and Japan will participate in friendly matches, which will be held without scoring, ranking, or overtime, providing a valuable opportunity to foster friendship among the youth of the three countries.

In Gumi, there will be fair competition in seven sports?tennis, badminton, table tennis, handball, weightlifting, basketball, and volleyball?as well as four additional sports: athletics (Yecheon), soccer (Chilgok), rugby (Gyeongsan), and soft tennis (Mungyeong), making a total of 11 sports.

Additionally, about 500 athletes from China and Japan will tour the Geumosan area and visit local industries such as Samsung and Nongshim in Gumi, experiencing the region’s culture and industrial facilities. This will provide the athletes with an opportunity to experience the beautiful nature and historical heritage of Gumi.

With the hosting of these two competitions, the influx of athletes and officials to Gumi is expected to boost sales for local small businesses such as accommodations, restaurants, cafes, and shops. Furthermore, various local specialty products and souvenir booths will be operated for participants and visitors, which will greatly help promote Gumi.

Mayor Kim Jangho said, "To minimize inconvenience for visitors, we will thoroughly prepare by cleaning up the areas around the stadiums and conducting hygiene inspections of accommodations and restaurants in advance, doing our best to create an image of a city people want to visit again."