Gangwon Delegation Sends Record 1,483 Members
Aims to Maintain Seventh Place Nationwide
Governor Kim Encourages Team for Fourth Consecutive Year
"Cheering Together with the Residents"
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) announced that a delegation of 1,483 members (1,184 athletes and 299 officials) will participate in the 106th National Sports Festival, which will be held in Busan for seven days from October 17 to 23, competing in a total of 48 events.
Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province will participate in the 106th National Sports Festival held in Busan from the 17th to the 23rd with a delegation of 1,483 members (1,184 athletes and 299 officials) competing in a total of 48 events. Provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province
Excluding the 96th National Sports Festival, when Gangwon served as the host city and fielded more than 1,600 members, this is the largest delegation ever sent to the event by a non-host province.
To continue last year’s achievement of finishing seventh overall in the nation for the first time in 16 years, the province has set its sights on maintaining its seventh-place ranking at this year’s festival.
As of October 16, Gangwon has already made a solid start, securing eighth place overall by winning a total of 35 medals in preliminary events-10 gold, 12 silver, and 13 bronze-including back-to-back team championships in the women’s general gymnastics division and athlete Shin Sol-i claiming five titles for the second consecutive year.
To strengthen its athletic competitiveness, the province has significantly increased support, raising the sports budget from 90 billion won in 2022 to 120 billion won in 2025-an increase of about 1.3 times-and boosting the Gangwon Sports Council’s budget from 17 billion won to 25 billion won over the same period, a 1.5-fold increase.
Additionally, starting in 2025, the province will newly provide 500,000 won per month in operating expenses to city and county sports councils, and to foster elite athletes and strengthen the foundation for professional sports, it will expand the founding support fund for corporate teams from 30 million won to up to 100 million won, leading to substantial changes to enhance Gangwon’s athletic competitiveness.
Governor Kim Jin-tae has also shown special interest in Gangwon sports, personally attending the National Sports Festival for four consecutive years since 2022 to encourage the delegation.
Governor Kim stated, "This is the Renaissance era of Gangwon sports," adding, "This year, we have sent the largest delegation ever to Busan." He continued, "If our athletes perform as they have diligently prepared, we can expect to achieve our goals," and pledged, "I will cheer for them to the very end together with the residents of the province."
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