Imsil County Hosts Hwarang Archery Competition with Middle and High School Athletes Participating

The 46th Hwarang National Provincial Archery Competition
Held at Jeonbuk International Archery Field in Osu, Imsil, from July 7 to 12

Imsil County in Jeonbuk announced on July 8 that the 46th Hwarang National Provincial Archery Competition is being held at the Jeonbuk International Archery Field in Osu, Imsil, for six days until July 12.

The 46th Hwarang National Provincial Archery Competition is being held at the International Archery Field in Imsil County, Jeonbuk. Photo by Imsil County

According to the county, this competition is hosted by the Korea Archery Association and organized by the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Archery Association. It features middle and high school athletes from across the country who represent the future of Korean archery, with about 700 participants including athletes and officials. The events are divided into recurve and compound categories and are held in both individual and team formats.

The participating athletes are expected to gain valuable experience in nationwide competition through this event, providing them with an opportunity to improve their archery skills and foster sportsmanship.

The Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province International Archery Field, where the competition is taking place, was built to commemorate the grand slam achievement of athlete Park Sunghyun. It is an international stadium with a total floor area of 2,714 square meters and a site area of 73,683 square meters, featuring a main stadium of 29,400 square meters and a three-story operations facility of 2,675 square meters. It serves as the main facility for archery in Imsil, hosting various national competitions, training camps, and archery experience programs.

Over the past three years, the county has steadily addressed and improved operational inconveniences by enhancing user convenience at the archery field through upgrades to the sound system, installation of safety fences, LED electronic displays, waterproofing of the roof, and other minor facility repairs.

This year as well, the county plans to further improve both major and minor facilities to ensure smooth operation of the competition, with the goal of firmly establishing the venue as a host for major national competitions and as a premier training site.

In addition, since 2021, a total project cost of 5,284 million won has been invested to construct the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province International Archery Field Training Center at the site. The center will be a four-story building with 26 rooms, capable of accommodating 51 people, and is scheduled for completion this month.

Once the training center is completed, the sports infrastructure for athletes and visitors will be significantly expanded, which is expected not only to improve athletes’ performance and serve as a springboard for becoming an international archery hub, but also to greatly contribute to revitalizing the local economy.

County Governor Shim Min stated, "This archery competition is expected to serve as an important turning point for the county to become a hub of archery," adding, "With the completion of the training center, the local sports infrastructure will be greatly strengthened, which will not only improve athletes’ performance but also help the county emerge as an international center for archery."