More than 70 international national competitions are held every year… Over 40,000 people receive training each year
Greater local economic revitalization effect due to creation of floating population
Panoramic view of the Mungyeong Armed Forces Athletic Corps
Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk, a tourist city with a population of 70,000, dramatically attracted the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, the cradle of sports in Korea, in 2011. Now, 10 years later, it is evaluated as having established itself as the best sports city in Gyeongbuk Province, both in name and reality.
As a result of active sports marketing based on the sports unit infrastructure, Mungyeong not only hosted the World Military Games, one of the world’s four major sports competitions, in 2015, but also became a frequent venue for large and small international games and national competitions.
In particular, in the past two years, along with Pohang City, which has a population of 500,000, it has hosted the largest number of domestic and international competitions in Gyeongsangbuk-do, and has even achieved success in attracting the best field training team in Gyeongbuk.
Mungyeong Mayor Shin Hyeon-guk, who previously hosted the Armed Forces Athletic Corps and the World Military Games, expressed his ambition, saying, “Mungyeong, a tourist city, needs another growth engine, so we approached the bid with a desperate heart. We will establish ourselves as the best sports city in the province within 10 years.” However, the assessment is that this is becoming a reality.
The national badminton team held a training camp in Mungyeong early this year. After training, they stop by a tourist attraction in Mungyeong and take a commemorative photo holding a banner that says, ‘Let’s win a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.’ Provided by Mungyeong City
◆Mungyeong Sports soaring
According to Mungyeong City on the 25th, Mungyeong, which used to host only 10 to 20 competitions per year before the construction of the sports complex, has been steadily holding 70 sports competitions per year since two years ago, attracting about 60,000 people annually, including athletes, executives, and cheering squads. The field training team also attracts about 300 teams and 40,000 people per year. The floating population, which is larger than the population of Mungyeong, supports the local economy.
This year, major international competitions such as the world’s largest Taekwondo festival ‘2024 World Taekwondo Festival’, ‘2024 Asia Youth and Youth Judo Competition’, and ‘2024 Prime Minister’s Cup World Baduk Championships’ will be attended by over 6,000 athletes and executives from over 60 countries around the world. 3 are also open.
Mungyeong modern pentathlon training camp scene
Accordingly, in Mungyeong, you can often see athletes from famous domestic professional and business teams and charter buses carrying them. Restaurants, lodgings, and main streets are crowded with tourists and energetic young athletes, bringing vitality to the area.
Choi Jeong-mook, head of Mungyeong City’s Saemaeul Sports Department, said, “Mungyeong, which had famous tourist attractions such as Mungyeong Saejae in the past but did not have a large floating population, has been steadily attracting various sports competitions, and the city’s lodging and restaurants have enjoyed a special period, and vitality is rising even in the sluggish economy.”
Athletes who visited Mungyeong also agree that “Mungyeong is equipped with 25 various sports stadiums certified to international standards and is open to private competitions by the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, and the indoor sports facilities, transportation conditions, and climate conditions outside the base are also excellent.”
The national wrestling team visiting Mungyeong for training camp.
◆Mungyeong is also visited by many field training teams.
The training camp staying in Mungyeong has also expanded quantitatively and boasts a high level of quality. There are various types of sports, including national teams, university teams, business teams, standing national teams, and overseas training teams.
One of the reasons they prefer the Mungyeong training camp is that they can train in the state-of-the-art stadium of the Armed Forces Athletic Corps and practice games with athletes from the military, many of whom are national team players. Another advantage is that you can experience the natural environment and tourist attractions that Mungyeong boasts.
From the perspective of athletes in the athletic unit, becoming training partners with various teams is the perfect practical training.
In Mungyeong, the professional baseball Futures League is also held 48 games a year, and the city of Mungyeong directly operates the Armed Forces Athletic Corps women’s soccer team, the Mungyeong City Hall professional tennis team, the track and field team, and the wrestling team.
An official from Mungyeong City said, “With the hosting of the Armed Forces Athletic Corps as an opportunity, the sports infrastructure has become more solid, and the demand for athletes’ training is also increasing. We will attract many athletes from home and abroad to help improve training results and make tourism satisfactory.”
2024-03-25 05:37:52
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