Gangneung City Temporarily Closes Public Sports Facilities to Overcome Drought

Limited Permission for Professional Sports Events Difficult to Postpone or Cancel Due to Scheduling Constraints

Gangneung City in Gangwon Province announced on September 4 that it will temporarily close all public sports facilities within its jurisdiction as an emergency response to overcome the drought, as the prolonged dry spell has caused the water storage rate of Obong Reservoir, the main water supply source, to plummet to below 15%.

Exterior view of Gangneung City Hall.

The city had already taken preemptive measures to combat the drought by suspending operations at three public swimming pools since mid-July. With this additional measure, the scope of closures has been expanded to include all public sports facilities such as Gangneung Sports Complex, sports facilities within Gangnam Sports Park, and park golf courses and tennis courts operated under the Gangneung City Sports Association.

However, for professional sports events (such as training for competitions) and professional soccer matches that cannot be postponed or canceled due to scheduling constraints, facility use will be permitted on a limited basis after prior consultation. The use of auxiliary facilities such as restrooms and washbasins by spectators will be restricted to conserve water.

Park Sangwoo, head of the Sports Facilities Office, stated, "This decision was unavoidable to resolve the severe water shortage caused by the prolonged drought," and added, "We sincerely ask for citizens' understanding for the inconvenience, and hope that everyone will actively participate in efforts to overcome the drought, including saving water."

The city plans to gradually reopen public sports facilities once the drought situation improves, and will conduct thorough safety inspections and environmental maintenance before resuming operations to minimize inconvenience for citizens.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.