Naju City Hosts General Hong Beom-do Cup Shooting Competition... Boosting Local Economy

Published 05 Jun.2024 15:53(KST)

Naju City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Yoon Byung-tae) announced on the 5th that the "4th General Hong Beom-do Cup Shooting Competition" is being held at the Jeollanam-do Comprehensive Shooting Range from the opening ceremony on the 4th until the 11th.

The "4th General Hong Beom-do Cup Shooting Competition" is being held at the Jeollanam-do Comprehensive Shooting Range from the opening ceremony on the 4th until the 11th.
[Photo by Naju City]

This competition was established in 2021 by the General Hong Beom-do Memorial Association (Chairman Woo Won-sik) to reexamine the life and achievements of General Hong Beom-do (1868?1943), a prominent hero in the history of the independence movement whose historical evaluation was limited after liberation.

The year 2021 (August 15) was especially meaningful as it marked the return of General Hong Beom-do’s remains to his homeland from Kazakhstan after 78 years, drawing significant attention to the competition.

Now in its 4th edition, the competition is hosted and organized by the General Hong Beom-do Memorial Association and the Korea Shooting Federation, with support from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and Naju City.

In particular, the event has been elevated to a national team selection competition certified by the Korea Shooting Federation, expected to become a gateway for national team-level shooting prospects aspiring to promote national prestige.

This year, 378 teams and over 2,700 athletes and coaching staff from elementary, middle, high schools, universities, and general divisions nationwide have gathered in Naju.

They compete in 14 events, including Olympic and Asian Games disciplines such as the 10m air pistol and 10m air rifle, to determine national team-level sharpshooters.

The Jeonnam Comprehensive Shooting Range, which can accommodate about 400 people, hosted another nationwide shooting competition following the 53rd National Youth Sports Festival held on May 25?26.

Considering that each participating athlete stays an average of four days for lodging and meals, the city anticipates an economic ripple effect of approximately 840 million KRW from hosting this competition.

Meanwhile, the opening ceremony held on the 4th at the Naju Centum Hotel banquet hall was attended by Woo Won-sik, Chairman of the General Hong Beom-do Memorial Association and the 22nd Speaker of the National Assembly, Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok, National Assembly member Shin Jeong-hoon, and others who encouraged the athletes.

The ceremony included a moment of silence, videos, and commemorative performances honoring the achievements of General Hong Beom-do, the hero of the independence war, reflecting on the purpose and significance of the competition.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “I sincerely welcome the athletes and officials who have come to Naju, the sports mecca, and I hope the sweat they have shed in pursuit of becoming national representatives will bear fruit.” He added, “We will continue to prepare plans for improving aging facilities and expanding international-standard equipment to host national and international competitions.”