‘Alliance Forged in Sweat’: Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju Successfully Conclude Haeoreum Alliance Community Sports Festival

Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium Welcomes 500 Participants from Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju
Strengthening the Spirit of Mutual Growth and Unity
Community Exchange Programs Including Recreational Sports Meet and Inter-City Competitions
A Platform for Cooperation in Culture and Tourism

The "2025 Haeoreum Sports Festival," jointly hosted by Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju, was successfully held on the 7th at the Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium with about 500 attendees.

The "2025 Haeoreum Sports Festival" hosted jointly by Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju was successfully held on the 7th at the Gyeongju Indoor Gymnasium with about 500 attendees. Photo by Pohang City

The "Haeoreum Alliance" is a cooperative body formed in 2016 by the three cities of Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju, with the goal of mutual development and shared prosperity in the southeastern coastal region. The alliance pursues joint projects in various fields such as economy, industry, culture, tourism, and sports.

Among these, the Community Sports Festival was first held in Ulsan in 2018 to promote communication and exchange among local sports enthusiasts, and since then, the three cities have taken turns hosting the event every year.

On this day, Pohang Mayor Lee Kangdeok, Ulsan Mayor Kim Dugyeom, Gyeongju Mayor Joo Nakyeong, as well as the chairpersons and members of each city council, the presidents and officials of each city’s sports association, and members of the National Assembly attended the event, reaffirming the commitment of the three cities to mutual growth and unity.

Haeoreum Alliance Community Sports Festival.

In the first part, a recreational sports meet featured activities such as "Shoe Curling," which included participation from the mayors, council chairpersons, and sports association presidents, as well as a disco relay and a unity program involving all participants, creating a lively and enjoyable atmosphere.

The second part of the event took place at various sports venues throughout Gyeongju, where representatives from each city competed in a variety of community sports, including a foot volleyball tournament for city council members, gateball, table tennis, and badminton.

Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "The Haeoreum Alliance is an important platform for mutual growth, where Pohang, Ulsan, and Gyeongju work together to shape the future of our region. I hope that this festival will further deepen the friendships among our citizens and expand cooperation not only in sports but also in various fields such as culture and tourism."

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