How Cheongyang County is Combating Rural Decline with a Stay-and-Play Sports Strategy

Introduction: Cheongyang County’s Bold Move Against Rural Decline

Facing the serious challenges of rural depopulation, aging population, and youth outflow, Cheongyang County in South Chungcheong Province has chosen an innovative path: leveraging sports as a catalyst for local revitalization. Since 2018, the county has hosted over 1,112 sports events, attracting more than 220,000 participants and generating an estimated economic ripple effect of 1.9 trillion KRW (approximately 1.5 billion USD). This approach has drawn significant attention as a replicable rural regeneration model in Korea.

A Year-Round, Diverse Sports Event Strategy

Unlike typical one-off sports events, Cheongyang has implemented a balanced and diversified sports calendar to maintain continuous local activity. The county strategically hosts kendo tournaments in spring, table tennis and boxing in summer, park golf and gateball in autumn, and indoor ball games during winter. This seasonal spread ensures year-round engagement across different age groups and sports preferences, maximizing both participation and local economic benefit.

From Event Hosting to Stay-and-Play Tourism

Cheongyang’s key innovation lies in shifting from mere event hosting to a stay-and-play model. Instead of athletes and spectators leaving immediately after competitions, the county encourages them to stay for several days, boosting local consumption in lodging, dining, tourism, and shopping. To support this, Cheongyang operates shuttle services connecting tourist sites, offers discounts at traditional markets, and packages rural experience programs. This has improved the county’s external image and increased repeat visits, deepening the economic and social impact.

Building a Sustainable Sports Ecosystem

The county has restructured its sports administration to support sustainable growth. This includes modernizing venues, simplifying permitting processes, allocating budgets strategically, and strengthening sports associations. Local volunteer groups are mobilized to enhance community participation, making sports a shared local asset rather than a transient event. Cheongyang’s approach exemplifies how sports can be integrated into broader regional development policies.

Major Infrastructure Projects: Park Golf and Beyond

A flagship project is the construction of a 108-hole Chungnam Provincial Park Golf course on the site of the former Gubong Mine, scheduled for completion in 2026. This facility will include an education center for coaching and referee certification, expecting over 400,000 annual visitors and generating more than 300 billion KRW in economic benefits. Targeting older adults, this park golf complex will serve as a multi-functional hub combining sports, tourism, and welfare services, supported by health professionals and rehabilitation experts.

Pioneering a Table Tennis Professional Team

Cheongyang is also pioneering the creation of the first-ever professional table tennis team at the county level in South Korea. Building on its experience hosting the ITTF-certified WTT Youth Contender tournament in 2023, the team will foster elite sports development, create local jobs, and provide youth with career pathways in sports. The team’s ongoing training and league activities are expected to sustain demand for local accommodations and food services, further embedding sports into the county’s economy.

Community and Cultural Impact

The sports strategy has fostered intergenerational interaction and strengthened community bonds, with residents actively volunteering and participating in sports administration. This inclusive approach has enhanced local pride and identity, positioning Cheongyang as a vibrant rural community where sports serve as a social glue and economic engine.

Leadership Vision and Future Outlook

County Mayor Kim Dong-gon emphasizes that Cheongyang’s sports policy transcends event hosting to become a sustainable industry that revitalizes the region. The goal is to continue evolving this model to attract more people, encourage longer stays, and inspire repeated visits, ultimately creating a replicable rural development blueprint for other regions facing similar demographic challenges.

Conclusion: A New Rural Renaissance Through Sports

Cheongyang County’s innovative use of sports as a tool for economic revitalization and social cohesion offers a compelling example of how rural areas can combat depopulation. By fostering a stay-and-play sports ecosystem, investing in infrastructure, and integrating community participation, Cheongyang is charting a new path toward sustainable rural prosperity in South Korea.