Gwangsan District in Gwangju Converts Public Park Golf Courses to Direct Management

Official Operation and Free Access for Residents Begin on May 1
Annual Pass Introduced to Improve User Convenience

On April 29, Gwangsan District in Gwangju announced that it will convert its public park golf courses to direct management and implement various policies designed to enhance citizens' experience, with the goal of revitalizing the facilities as citizen-friendly spaces.

Gwangsan District has decided to directly manage two public park golf courses, Seobong and Imgok, to strengthen the public nature of their operation and to expand the base of park golf, a sport enjoyed by all generations. Both courses underwent a temporary operation period from February to March 15, after which they were closed for turf reseeding. They will officially reopen for regular operation starting May 1.

Exterior view of Gwangsan District Office, Gwangju.

Along with the switch to direct management, Gwangsan District established the "Gwangsan District Park Golf Course Management and Operation Ordinance" in April, becoming the first autonomous district in Gwangju to do so. Based on this ordinance, the district will begin full-scale implementation of experience-driven policies that enhance citizen benefits.

As a first step, every Thursday has been designated as "Gwangsan Park Golf Day," allowing residents whose registered address is in Gwangsan District to use the Seobong and Imgok park golf courses free of charge by simply presenting their ID.

An annual pass for Gwangsan District residents (priced at 200,000 won) will also be introduced. The annual pass is about 60% cheaper than regular admission and allows direct entry without issuing a separate ticket. Seniors aged 65 and older can purchase the annual pass at a 50% discount for 100,000 won.

Gwangsan District expects that the introduction of the annual pass will increase benefits for residents and help resolve the chronic issue of queuing. Residents can apply for the annual pass at Seobong Park Golf Course by bringing their ID and a copy of their resident registration certificate. The pass can be used starting May 1 and is limited to one use per day.

Going forward, Gwangsan District plans to further strengthen local benefits by applying differentiated rates for users from Gwangju and those from outside the region.

Park Byungkyu, head of the district office, stated, "We will actively implement various experience-driven policies to ensure that public golf courses become true citizen-friendly hubs for recreational sports," adding, "We will continue to listen to citizens' voices and strive to create a highly satisfying park golf environment."