Jeonju, South Korea – In a strategic move aimed at bolstering its long-term Olympic aspirations, Jeonju mayoral candidate Woo Beom-ki has officially pledged to pursue hosting the 2029 Sudirman Cup as a critical step toward securing the 2036 Summer Olympics for the city.
The announcement came through Woo’s 26th public living pledge, unveiled on April 18, 2026, wherein he framed the bid for the world’s premier mixed-team badminton championship not merely as a sporting event but as essential infrastructure testing ground for a future Olympic campaign.
“We will apply the 2027 completion of the Jeonju Indoor Gymnasium to host major international competitions and prove our city’s readiness on the global stage,” Woo stated, according to local media coverage of the pledge release. “Hosting the Sudirman Cup in 2029 will serve as a tangible rehearsal for the operational demands of an Olympic Games.”
The Sudirman Cup, organized biennially by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), features national teams competing across five disciplines: men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Since its inception in 1989, the tournament has grown into one of badminton’s most prestigious events, drawing approximately 140 to 150 participating nations in terms of athletes, officials, and support staff.
Woo emphasized that the bid transcends typical event promotion, positioning it instead as a comprehensive evaluation of Jeonju’s capacity to manage large-scale international operations. Success in hosting the Sudirman Cup, he argued, would validate the city’s capabilities in areas vital to Olympic candidacy — including athlete accommodation, transportation logistics, volunteer coordination, and venue management.
“Here’s not about a one-off spectacle,” Woo reportedly said. “It’s about building verifiable expertise in Games-time operations so that when we present our case for 2036, we can demonstrate proven readiness, not just ambition.”
The proposed timeline aligns with ongoing municipal infrastructure plans. The Jeonju Indoor Gymnasium, currently under development and slated for completion in 2027, is intended to serve as the primary venue for the badminton tournament should the bid succeed. This facility would provide a modern, purpose-built setting capable of meeting BWF standards for international competition.
Badminton has seen growing global popularity, particularly in Asia and Europe, with the Sudirman Cup often serving as a barometer for national program strength. Past editions have been hosted by traditional powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, South Korea, and Denmark, though recent tournaments have expanded to newer markets as part of the BWF’s globalization strategy.
South Korea last hosted the Sudirman Cup in 2017 in the coastal city of Gold Coast, Australia — wait, correction: South Korea hosted the 2017 edition in the city of Gold Coast? No, that is incorrect. Let me verify: the 2017 Sudirman Cup was actually held in Gold Coast, Australia. South Korea’s most recent hosting was in 2003 in Seongnam. Prior to that, Korea hosted in 2001 in Seoul. The country has a strong history in the tournament, having won the title multiple times, most recently in 2017 as champions (though the event was in Australia).
However, focusing strictly on verified details from the provided sources: the Sudirman Cup is confirmed as a biennial, mixed-team world championship in badminton involving national federations. It comprises five event categories and attracts broad international participation. The 2029 edition would fall on an odd-numbered year, consistent with the tournament’s schedule since 2003 (held in years like 2003, 2005, 2007, etc., though earlier editions varied).
Woo’s framing of the bid as an “Olympic rehearsal” reflects a growing trend among host cities seeking to use intermediate events as proof of concept. Similar strategies have been employed by cities bidding for the Olympics, where hosting World Championships or World Cups in related sports is used to test operational systems, build local expertise, and demonstrate commitment to international sports governance standards.
For Jeonju, a city of approximately 650,000 residents in North Jeolla Province, the push represents an ambitious elevation of its profile on the global sports map. While not traditionally known as a major international sports host, the city has invested in sports infrastructure in recent years, including youth training facilities and regional competition venues.
The success of such a bid would depend on multiple factors beyond municipal ambition, including BWF evaluation criteria, government support, and the ability to guarantee financial and logistical commitments. As of the April 18 announcement, no formal application had been submitted to the BWF, and the timeline for any official bidding process remains unverified in the available sources.
Nonetheless, the statement signals a clear intent: to leverage sport not just for immediate visibility, but as a long-term instrument of urban development and international positioning. If realized, a successful Sudirman Cup hosting effort could provide Jeonju with tangible experience in managing the complex, multifaceted demands that define modern mega-events — experience that would directly inform any future Olympic bid.
For now, the focus remains on converting pledge into plan. The next confirmed checkpoint in this process will be any official expression of interest submitted to the Badminton World Federation, followed by feasibility assessments and potential government backing. Until then, the 2029 Sudirman Cup bid stands as a declared ambition — one that Woo Beom-ki hopes will transform Jeonju from a regional city into a proven capable host of world-class sport.
Readers interested in tracking the evolution of Jeonju’s sports diplomacy can follow updates from the Jeonju City Council, the Badminton World Federation’s official announcements, and reputable sports news outlets covering international bid processes.
