Gangjin County in South Jeolla Province is expanding its sports marketing efforts by attracting overseas training teams, anticipating an economic impact of approximately 1 billion won.
The county announced on August 6 that it is hosting the '2026 International Training Camp and Exchange Event' from July 29 to August 8.
A total of 848 athletes from 17 teams, including the Youyi Sports Club from China's Puyang City, are participating in the training camp, along with 30 parents of the Chinese athletes, bringing the total to 878 individuals staying in Gangjin for training and exchange activities.
The county expects the presence of these participants to invigorate the local economy. Based on a study conducted by Gangjin County, which estimated an average daily spending of 102,906 won per person, the economic effect during the training camp is projected to be around 994 million won.
During their stay, the athletes are expected to utilize local accommodations and restaurants, as well as engage in tourism and visits to traditional markets, thereby spreading consumption throughout the local economy.
The training will primarily take place at Cheongja Football Field and the Comprehensive Sports Complex, with participants also visiting major tourist attractions in Gangjin, including Gaudo, Marang Nolto Seafood Market, Gangjin Celadon Museum, Yeongrang's Birthplace, V-Land Water Park, Dasan Chodang, Baengnyeonsa Temple, Byeongyeongseong, and the Hamel Memorial Hall, allowing them to experience the region's history and culture.
Gangjin County views this event as an opportunity to showcase the competitiveness of a sports tourism model that integrates local tourism. It is particularly hopeful that if overseas teams and their families establish a long-term presence in the area, it could create a new model for revitalizing the local economy through the combination of sports and tourism.
As part of this exchange, Gangjin County and the Youyi Sports Club from Puyang City have established a regular exchange system for the next three years, planning to send teams back and forth annually for training camps and friendly matches. Both sides aim to expand international sports exchanges while enhancing the performance of local athletes and continuously increasing the local consumption base through the attraction of overseas teams.
Gangjin County anticipates that this training camp will not only promote international sports exchanges but also highlight the region's excellent sports infrastructure and event management capabilities to the world. Furthermore, it plans to strengthen its strategy for revitalizing the local economy through sports by continuously expanding the attraction of overseas training camps and international competitions.
Gangjin County Mayor Gang Jin-won stated, "Attracting overseas training teams is not just about bringing in athletes; it is a core strategy of sports marketing that injects direct vitality into the local economy through spending on accommodations, dining, and tourism. We will continue to expand exchanges with overseas sports organizations to enhance the brand competitiveness of Gangjin as a sports hub that integrates sports and tourism, and we will do our utmost to revitalize the local economy and increase the resident population."
Meanwhile, Gangjin County is expanding its exchanges with overseas sports organizations following its success in attracting domestic training camps, aiming to develop stay-type sports tourism as a growth engine for the region. The county plans to establish a virtuous cycle that simultaneously promotes population growth and revitalizes the local economy through a sports marketing strategy that links sports, tourism, and local consumption.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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