Attracting 320 Billion Won in Private Investment
Expectations for Stay-Type Tourism and Job Creation
Complex to Feature Polo Stadium, Golf Course, and Accommodation Facilities
Phased Development Planned Through 2030
The Korea Polo Park Tourism Complex, the nation's first large-scale public polo multi-resort, will be established in the Seomyeon area of Gyeongju.
On January 15, Gyeongju City announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the North Gyeongsang Provincial Office with North Gyeongsang Province and private developer Luvre Co., Ltd. for the development of the Korea Polo Park Tourism Complex.
The signing ceremony was attended by Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nakyoung, North Gyeongsang Province Governor Lee Cheolwoo, officials from related organizations, and Son Myungik, Chairman of Seongho Group and head of the development company Luvre Co., Ltd., among others.
Under this agreement, Gyeongju City, together with North Gyeongsang Province, will provide administrative support such as permits and approvals to ensure smooth progress of the tourism complex development. Luvre, as the project operator, plans to invest a total of 320 billion won in private funds to build tourism infrastructure and create over 300 new jobs.
The Korea Polo Park Tourism Complex will be developed on approximately 2.13 million square meters (about 640,000 pyeong) of land spanning Dogye, Seoo, and Cheonchon-ri in Seomyeon, Gyeongju.
Centered around the country's first polo stadium open to the general public, the complex will feature a polo park, an 18-hole golf course and other comprehensive sports facilities, nature-friendly leisure content such as a monorail, zipline, and forest experience facilities, as well as accommodation facilities including a sports hotel and condominiums. The project will be carried out in phases through 2030.
Although polo is an international sport with more than 30,000 registered players in over 80 countries worldwide, it has remained largely inaccessible to the general public in Korea, being operated mainly as a membership sport.
With the development of this tourism complex, Gyeongju City aims to popularize polo, attract domestic and international tourists, host international competitions, and expand global exchanges.
Gyeongju City expects the site to grow into a new tourism hub capable of absorbing wide-area tourism demand, as it is located within two hours by high-speed rail from the Seoul metropolitan area and within one hour from major cities in the Yeongnam region, including Daegu, Busan, and Ulsan.
Mayor Joo Nakyoung stated, "The Korea Polo Park Tourism Complex will serve as a catalyst for expanding Gyeongju's tourism content. We will spare no administrative support to invigorate the local economy by expanding stay-type tourism infrastructure and attracting private investment."
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