Icheon City, led by Mayor Seong Su-seok, has officially announced plans to relocate the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) horse racing park and confirmed local residents' support for the initiative.
In a recent survey conducted in the city's rural areas, residents from Janghowon-eup, Bubal-eup, Sindun-myeon, Hobak-myeon, and Yul-myeon expressed their approval for the project.
Notably, Janghowon-eup held a public opinion meeting, formed a resident promotion committee, and submitted an initial petition with over 4,000 signatures to the city, demonstrating strong support for the relocation.
The primary motivation for Icheon City to pursue the KRA relocation is the significant economic impact it is expected to have on the local economy.
If operated on a scale similar to that of Gwacheon City, the city estimates an annual revenue increase of approximately 49 billion won, including about 6.3 billion won from leisure tax allocations.
Additionally, the relocation is anticipated to bring about 3,000 existing jobs in the horse racing sector and related businesses, with new job opportunities created through local hiring for facility management.
Icheon is already designated as a horse industry special zone, with 26 farms raising around 470 horses, accounting for about 10% of the national horse population. The city operates a specialized veterinary hospital that treats over 5,600 horses annually and has equestrian facilities, fulfilling the necessary infrastructure for the project.
The city plans to develop the horse racing park not just as a sports facility but as a regional growth hub that integrates the horse industry, tourism, and leisure.
Mayor Seong emphasized, "Based on the strong desire of our citizens and the existing horse industry infrastructure, we will ensure the successful relocation of the Korea Racing Authority. We will do our utmost to revamp our future industries for the next 100 years."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.