Record-High Training Camp Attendance in 2025
Aggressive Sports Marketing to Be Launched in 2026
In the era of centenarians, sports activities have become a key indicator that determines not only personal hobbies but also social health and the economic vitality of local communities.
According to the 2024 National Sports for All Survey, 6 out of 10 people in South Korea participate in sports for all, and research shows that annual medical expenses for participants are only about 260,000 won-half the amount spent by non-participants. This proves that sports are the most proactive form of welfare.
Geochang County is leading this trend, fully launching its "Sports-nomics" initiative to transform the local economy through vibrant, year-round sports infrastructure.
The county is enhancing residents' quality of life through an extensive sports-for-all network, while also attracting training teams from across the nation with aggressive sports marketing, creating new momentum for population inflow.
◆ Establishing "Hubs" for Customized Sports Infrastructure by Life Stage
Geochang County is systematically building and managing sports infrastructure so that all residents can enjoy healthy and active lives.
The Sports Park, created in 2009 with an investment of 34.6 billion won on a 280,000-square-meter site, serves as the heart of leisure activities for Geochang residents. The National Sports Center, completed in 2011, is equipped with a swimming pool, table tennis hall, and bowling alley. The swimming pool, in particular, is a flagship educational space used by about 800 people daily. This foundation led to Geochang County ranking first among counties in the 2025 Gyeongnam Elementary and Middle School Swimming Competition.
The Silver Leisure Sports Town, completed in 2014 with 8.5 billion won, features a soccer field and a Ssireum arena, making it popular among sports enthusiasts. The multipurpose gymnasium, completed in 2024, has become a core facility for indoor sports and has been designated as the venue for Kendo at the 2025 Gimhae National Sports Festival, thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities.
The second Sports Town, completed in May 2025, includes one baseball field, one soccer field, and an archery field that also serves as a ground golf course. With these modern facilities, soccer training camps have increased significantly, laying the groundwork for the county to place third in baseball at the 36th Gyeongnam Sports for All Competition.
◆ Expanding "Park Golf Courses" in All Towns and Villages to Boost Senior Vitality
Amid a nationwide park golf boom, Geochang County now has nearly 3,000 enthusiasts.
The county is working to expand resident-oriented facilities across all towns and villages. Currently, there are two 18-hole courses and nine 9-hole courses operating in Geochang-eup and six other towns, with three more courses, including one in Mari-myeon, scheduled for completion by June next year. Once the project is finished in Buk-sang-myeon by 2027, park golf will be available in every town and village.
Notably, the 36-hole park golf course within the Second Changpowon attracted over 8,000 users between its trial opening in October 2025 and early December, establishing itself as a national hotspot.
◆ Geochang, the "Best Destination for Training Camps," Achieves Record-High Visitor Numbers
Through aggressive marketing, Geochang County has increased its appeal as a training camp destination.
From January to November 2025, a total of 76 teams and 1,880 individuals (with a cumulative total of 12,363 participants) visited for training camps, marking the highest figures in the past three years. This represents an increase of 603 participants and 6,501 cumulative participants compared to the previous year, with soccer (55 teams) and Kendo (16 teams) showing particularly notable growth.
In particular, the county successfully hosted large-scale events such as the "2025 Presidential National Ssireum King Selection Tournament." The "Training Camp Incentive Program" (covering 50% of accommodation costs), introduced through a 2024 ordinance amendment, has played a decisive role in increasing the rate of repeat visits by sports teams. By November this year, about 15 million won in accommodation expenses had been provided to nine soccer teams, offering tangible benefits.
◆ Building an Integrated Sports Belt with "Aggressive Sports Marketing" in 2026
The county has designated 2026 as a year of major advancement in sports marketing. When the Second Changpowon Sports for All Facility (two soccer fields and two futsal fields) is completed in June next year, the county will be optimally positioned to host national-level competitions.
Based on this, the county plans to maximize synergy effects by expanding the training camp incentive budget and diversifying sports categories, developing programs linked to the "2026 Visit Geochang Year," and building an integrated sports belt connecting Geochang Sports Park, the second Sports Town, and the second Changpowon.
A Geochang County official stated, "We will widely promote the 'Geochang You Want to Visit Again' brand, leveraging the nation's top-level sports infrastructure," adding, "We will do our utmost to ensure that sports become a strong driving force for revitalizing the local economy and increasing the resident population."
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