"Prolonged Closure of Daegu Duryu Swimming Pool's Competition Pool Due to Lack of Maintenance Budget"... Councilor Kwongeun Yoon Urges Action

Kwongeun Yoon, a member of the Daegu City Council (People Power Party, Dalseo District 5), expressed strong concern on January 14 through a written administrative inquiry regarding the prolonged closure of the Duryu Swimming Pool's competition pool due to the lack of secured maintenance funding, and urged Daegu City to establish a responsible countermeasure.

Councilor Yoon emphasized, "Duryu Swimming Pool has long served as a leading public sports facility responsible for citizens' recreational sports and health promotion," adding, "In particular, the competition pool is one of only two 50-meter standard pools in Daegu, and has played a vital public role in nurturing swimming athletes, providing swimming lessons for citizens, and supporting rehabilitation swimming for people with disabilities and the elderly."

Kwongeun Yoon, Daegu City Council Member

He continued, "With the Dalseo-gu Student Culture Center swimming pool closing for remodeling in August 2024, and the Duryu Swimming Pool's competition pool ceasing operations since last year due to ceiling panel sagging, there are currently no 50-meter standard swimming pools available in Daegu," pointing out, "This is a serious issue that could lead not only to inconvenience for citizens but also to the collapse of the region's entire sports infrastructure."

Councilor Yoon specifically mentioned Ji Yuchan, a member of the Daegu City swimming team, who set a new Asian record in the men's 50-meter freestyle in August last year, stating, "It is truly regrettable that, despite Daegu's proven competitiveness in swimming and potential for developing elite athletes, we are unable to provide a stable training environment." He then raised questions regarding training measures for elite athletes, the status of facility maintenance costs over the past five years, the repair schedule, alternatives in case national funding is not secured, supplementary budgets, and other alternative funding sources, calling for comprehensive measures that encompass both recreational and elite sports.

Councilor Yoon concluded his written inquiry by stating, "The current situation, in which Daegu's 50-meter swimming pools have been out of operation for an extended period, must not be neglected any longer," and urged, "Daegu City should make the normalization of the Duryu Swimming Pool competition pool its top priority, promptly conduct a thorough analysis of the causes, establish a responsible budget plan, and swiftly prepare effective measures to secure funding."