Annual Economic Impact of 190 Billion Won Through Stay-Type Sports Marketing
First-Ever Professional Table Tennis Team at County Level in Korea
Amid the triple crisis of local extinction, population decline, and youth outflow, Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province has chosen an unexpected solution. Unlike most rural areas that focus on agriculture, tourism, or return-to-farming policies, Cheongyang has turned its attention to 'sports.' Going beyond simple athletic events, the county has established itself as a model case of rural regeneration based on sports, promoting extended stays, generational integration, and job creation.
According to the county on June 13, from 2018 to 2024, Cheongyang hosted a total of 1,112 sports events, with a cumulative 220,000 participants. The budget invested amounted to 15.7 billion won, but the estimated economic impact is about 190 billion won. Through a balanced strategy of attracting events by season and sport, Cheongyang is transforming into a year-round sports city.
Particularly noteworthy is the concept of 'stay-type sports.' Participants in these events not only compete but also stay overnight, dine, and enjoy tourism, establishing a consumption structure based on extended stays. This has been linked to local traditional markets and rural experience programs. Through this process, Cheongyang's brand identity has also shifted to that of a 'city of sports and experiences.'
◆ 108-hole 'Park Golf Course' at Gubong Mine... Targeting 400,000 annual visitors
The core of Cheongyang's sports policy is the Chungnam Provincial Park Golf Course, scheduled for completion this year. Built on the site of the former Gubong Mine in Guryong-ri, Namyang-myeon (about 230,000 square meters), this 108-hole facility is expected to attract 400,000 visitors annually and generate over 30 billion won in economic benefits.
The park golf course will also house a training center for coaches and referees, positioning Cheongyang as a future national hub for park golf education and competitions.
By combining senior helper training and exercise prescription services, Cheongyang plans to develop this into a 'sports welfare cluster.'
◆ First-ever 'professional table tennis team' at the county level in Korea
Another experiment is the establishment of a professional table tennis team. Since 2021, Cheongyang has expanded its presence by hosting more than 10 national-level table tennis tournaments each year.
In particular, in 2023, Cheongyang successfully hosted the 'WTT Youth Contender Cheongyang' event, certified by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), gaining recognition on the international stage.
If the professional team is established, Cheongyang will emerge as a central hub in the table tennis industry ecosystem.
This will provide new career opportunities for local youth and create steady demand for local businesses.
The county plans to expand this into a sports ecosystem where 'sports, education, jobs, and the economy' circulate in a virtuous cycle.
Donkon Kim, the county governor, stated, "Cheongyang's sports policy is not just about games, but an industrial strategy that opens the future of the region," adding, "We are creating a sustainable rural model that attracts people, encourages them to stay, and makes them want to return."
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