Yongin City's Swimming Facility for the Disabled 'Bandabi Sports Center' Passes Central Investment Review After Reapplication

Bandabi Sports Center and Baegam Elementary School Complex Facility
Both Projects Pass Central-Local Fiscal Investment Review After Reconsideration
Construction of Bandabi Sports Center to Begin Next Year, Completion Expected in Late 2028
Baegam Elementary School Complex Facility to Provide Community Swimming Pool and Gymnasium

The construction project of the 'Bandabi Sports Center,' a sports facility for people with disabilities promoted by Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, has passed the central-local fiscal investment review after a round of reconsideration.

Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, announced on the 7th that the construction projects of the 'Bandabi Sports Center' and the 'Baegam Elementary School Complex Facility' recently passed the central-local fiscal investment review by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The Bandabi Sports Center is a sports facility centered around a swimming pool that can be used by both people with disabilities and those without. It is being planned to be built on the site of the temporary parking lot at Yongin Mir Stadium in Samga-dong, Cheoin-gu, with 2 basement floors and 3 above-ground floors, covering a total floor area of 18,920㎡.

This project, with a total budget of 120 billion KRW, was selected last July in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's public contest for the construction of a community-based (disability-type) national sports center, securing 4 billion KRW in national funds.

Perspective view of the 'Bandabi Sports Center' to be built on the temporary parking lot site of Yongin Mir Stadium. Provided by Yongin City

The project received a 'reconsideration' judgment in the central-local fiscal investment review in October last year. Since then, the city explained the necessity of constructing an appropriately sized sports facility for people with disabilities due to rapid population growth, and that it was confirmed through consultations with the Korea Paralympic Committee and others that the 2028 National Disabled Swimming Competition will be held in Yongin immediately after the completion of the Bandabi Sports Center, which led to passing the re-review this time.

The center plans to install a Level 2 certified swimming pool by the Korea Swimming Federation capable of hosting national competitions. It will have 10 lanes of 50 meters each and seating for over 2,000 spectators. An aquatic exercise room and diving pool will also be created. The city plans to provide a multipurpose gymnasium and a fitness certification center for people with disabilities above the swimming pool, and secure 541 parking spaces including disabled parking.

Following this review approval, the city plans to proceed with basic and detailed designs next year after a shared property review, start construction in 2027, and complete it in the second half of 2028.

A bird's-eye view of the 'Complex Cultural Center' to be built after demolishing the old auditorium of Baekam Elementary School in Cheoin-gu, Yongin. Provided by Yongin City

The 'Baegam Elementary School Complex Facility' also passed the review after a round of reconsideration. Initially, the review notified reconsideration due to local financial burdens and lack of demand caused by a shortage of students and population in the area, but the city proposed plans for operating a regional hub survival swimming pool that can also be used by elementary school students from neighboring cities Icheon and Anseong, passing the review this time.

This project involves demolishing the old auditorium of Baegam Elementary School, which has been established for 40 years, and creating a swimming pool and gymnasium that can be used by both students and local residents. It will be built with 1 basement floor and 3 above-ground floors, covering a total floor area of 4,352㎡, equipped with a swimming pool, multipurpose gymnasium, GX room, study room, and club rooms. The project will have a budget of 27.9 billion KRW, including 8.4 billion KRW supported by the Ministry of Education. After a shared property review and design competition, construction is scheduled to begin in December 2026 and be completed in the first half of 2028.

Lee Sang-il, Mayor of Yongin City, said, "The fact that these two projects passed the central investment review and can now be actively promoted is another achievement of the 'Yongin Renaissance.' We will proceed well according to the plan to enhance the city's dignity."