Yanggu County Hits 34.2 Billion KRW Sports Marketing Jackpot Last Year... Kicks Off 2026 Winter Training Camp Recruitment

County Achieves Record-High Economic Impact of 34.2 Billion KRW from Sports Marketing in 2025
Attracts 111 Competitions and 113 Training Teams, Marking an 11% Increase Over Previous Year

Yanggu County in Gangwon Province announced on January 4 that it generated an unprecedented economic impact of approximately 34.2 billion KRW through sports marketing in 2025.

December 9, 2025, Visit of the Weightlifting Team for Training Camp by the Shopping District Association on the National Affairs Page. Provided by Yanggu County

This figure represents an increase of over 3.3 billion KRW (about 11% growth) compared to the 2024 sports marketing economic impact of 30.9 billion KRW, demonstrating that the positive effects of sports marketing on the local economy are expanding each year.

In the previous year, Yanggu County successfully attracted 111 national-level competitions across 13 sports, including tennis, baseball, weightlifting, and fencing, as well as training camps for 113 teams in 11 sports. Approximately 340,000 people, including athletes, their families, and event officials, visited Yanggu County, revitalizing the local accommodation, food service, and overall commercial sectors.

In particular, by actively attracting youth group sports such as soccer, baseball, and basketball, the county expanded the base of sports marketing. This led to positive outcomes such as increased sales for small businesses and further revitalization of the local economy.

Building on these achievements, Yanggu County plans to accelerate its sports marketing efforts during the 2026 winter season (January to February). The county aims to utilize the relatively event-free months of January and February to attract about 50 training teams in sports such as tennis, weightlifting, baseball, taekwondo, and gymnastics.

February 18, 2025, Scene from the 27th Korea Business Fencing Federation President's Cup National Men's and Women's Fencing Championship. Provided by Yanggu County

In addition, following the training camps, Yanggu Tennis Park will host the 'Vitro Cup Indoor Junior Tennis Tournament' from January 5 to 11. Other major events to be held in succession include: the 2026 National Sports for All Judo Championship (January 9-11), the 14th Head Cup Indoor Junior Tennis Tournament (January 12-18), the 2026 Baseball & Tee-ball Festival in Yanggu (February 7-12), the Little Baseball Stove League (February 21-27), the 1st Yanggu Apple Cup National Youth Basketball Tournament (February 21-24), the Youth Yanggu Korea-Japan Friendship Match and Domestic Exhibition Match (March 1-3), and the 1st and 2nd Yanggu 14U International Junior Tennis Tournament and Club Tournament (February 28-March 13) under the ATF Lee Hyungtaek Cup. The county plans to continue its year-round sports marketing by hosting a diverse range of national and international competitions.

Yanggu County is also providing various administrative and financial support to attract training teams, such as access to exclusive training centers for athletes, accommodation subsidies, and free use of stadiums and sports facilities. As a result, athletes and officials visiting Yanggu for training and competitions are expected to boost the local food service, accommodation, and commercial sectors by staying in the area.

Tennis court. Provided by Yanggu County

Heo Namwon, Secretary General of the Yanggu County Sports Foundation, stated, "Yanggu has consistently strengthened its sports marketing competitiveness based on its high-level sports infrastructure and stable operational experience. We will continue to enhance athlete and visitor satisfaction through ongoing maintenance and improvement of sports facilities and systematic event management, and pursue sports marketing that provides tangible benefits to the local economy."