Sokcho City Accelerates Expansion of Sports Infrastructure
Anticipation Grows for Professional Sports Development with New Taekwondo Team
Sokcho City in Gangwon Province is making significant contributions to the local economy by continuously developing sports infrastructure, attracting training camps, and hosting various competitions through active marketing efforts.
According to Sokcho City, the city attracted approximately 2,000 athletes and officials from sports teams in four disciplines, including baseball and soccer, for training camps throughout this year.
The majority of these training camps, which were held during both the winter and summer seasons, focused on soccer and baseball, with some participation from athletics and volleyball teams as well.
The training teams stayed in the region for periods ranging from as short as 4-5 days to as long as 20 days, providing a significant boost to the local lodging and food service industries.
A considerable number of soccer teams used accommodations in Seorak-dong, greatly benefiting businesses that typically struggle during the off-peak tourist season.
Sokcho City is gaining popularity as a training destination for sports teams, thanks to the East Coast's relatively mild winter climate compared to Yeongseo, as well as its variety of sports facilities, accommodations, and tourism and leisure amenities.
Soccer and baseball, which attract many training teams, are especially valued for offering opportunities to hone skills through friendly matches and to participate in nationwide competitions.
In the case of baseball, the “2025 Sokcho City National Elite Middle School Winter League” was held at Seorak Baseball Stadium (Jungdomun) and the General Sports Complex Baseball Stadium for seven days from February 17 to 23. Additionally, the “2025 Sokcho City Baseball Softball Association National Elite High School and University Summer League” took place for five days from July 21 to 25, achieving great results.
Furthermore, nationwide competitions such as the “2025 Sokcho Seorak Cup National Elementary and Middle School Winter Soccer League” and the 14th Sokcho Mayor's Cup National Little Baseball Tournament were successfully hosted.
Competitions for recreational sports enthusiasts, including badminton, table tennis, and park golf, were also held consistently, with more than 30 different events taking place in Sokcho City this year.
Sokcho City will continue to invest in building sports infrastructure next year to promote public health and revitalize the sports sector.
The city will officially begin the construction of a tennis court at the site of the former Seorak Training Center and the Bandabi Sports Center.
The Bandabi Sports Center, which will be built in Manri Park, is a multi-purpose sports complex focused on people with disabilities. Construction is scheduled to begin in March next year and be completed by February 2028. The tennis court, featuring 12 courts at the former Seorak Training Center site, is set to break ground in March next year and be completed by May 2027.
To attract national and provincial competitions, the city also plans to complete the detailed design for an artificial turf soccer field within the General Sports Complex by June next year and commence construction in the second half of the year.
The park golf course, which is being expanded to 27 holes, is expected to open in the first half of next year.
In addition, Sokcho City plans to establish a new professional taekwondo team next year to further foster elite athletes.
A city official stated, "In 2026, we will strive to further expand the attraction of training camps and host a variety of sports events, not only to boost the local economy but also to grow as a sports tourism city."
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