Jeollanam-do, the Mecca of Winter Training Camps... 350,000 Visitors During Last Winter Season

Attracting Training Camps and Providing Customized Environments in Cities and Counties
360 Billion Won Economic Impact from Hosting Teams

A volleyball team visiting Gangjin, Jeollanam-do for winter training is sweating profusely. Provided by Gangjin County

Jeollanam-do is gaining attention as the center of winter nationwide training camps, as its mild climate, excellent sports infrastructure, and systematic support from local governments attract teams from across the country every winter.

According to Jeollanam-do on January 31, during the 2025-2026 winter training season, teams from various disciplines such as soccer, baseball, track and field, and badminton are visiting cities and counties throughout the province to conduct their training.

The biggest advantage is that the average winter temperature is 2.6°C, which is 2.2°C higher than the national average of 0.4°C, and there is little snowfall, reducing the risk of training interruptions. Improved accessibility from the Seoul metropolitan area and the Yeongnam and Honam regions, thanks to the expansion of KTX and expressway networks, also plays a significant role.

The cities and counties offer customized training environments based on general stadiums, all-weather training facilities, artificial turf fields, indoor gyms, weight training centers, and integrated support for accommodation, meals, and transportation. They are increasing the rate of return visits by providing discounts on training facility rentals and operating programs linked to local tourism.

Gangjin County offers local gift certificates based on the duration of stay and number of visitors, taking advantage of its mild winter climate and various sports infrastructure such as a general stadium, a dedicated soccer field, and a multipurpose indoor gym. Around 200 teams from six sports, including soccer, bowling, volleyball, and badminton, with a total of 38,000 athletes from across the country, are expected to stay for an average of about nine days, further strengthening Gangjin's status as a hub for long-term training camps.

Mokpo City is hosting both winter training camps and the Stove League, with 35 teams from four sports, including track and field, soccer, and baseball, and a total of about 11,000 athletes currently training. An additional 15 teams from three sports, including soccer, track and field, and hockey, totaling about 3,000 people, are scheduled to visit by February. The city is also working to increase the rate of return visits by providing incentives such as local gift certificates and transportation support.

Haenam County plans to attract more than 41,000 athletes from 12 sports this year, an increase of over 10,000 from last year, as Haenam Sports Park and the Gukyo Gymnasium have been completed. The county is launching the Haenam Spo-tour, which combines training and tourism for training teams. The winter training rehabilitation center, staffed by five professional trainers, is available free of charge.

Gurye County is hosting 73 teams from four sports, including 38 soccer teams, 19 taekwondo teams, and 14 ssireum teams, with a total of about 16,700 athletes participating in winter training. Teams staying for more than five days receive partial support for accommodation costs in the form of local gift certificates, as well as bottled water for athletes. In February, the county plans to host the Gurye Nogodan Youth Soccer Festival in conjunction with the training camps.

Attracting winter training camps is also providing tangible benefits to the local economy. Spending on accommodation, food, transportation, and daily necessities during the teams' stays is boosting sales for local small businesses, and it is also revitalizing the off-season tourism industry.

From September 2024 to August 2025, Jeollanam-do attracted a total of 2,854 teams from 64 sports, with a cumulative total of about 916,000 athletes, generating an estimated 94.3 billion won in economic impact for the region. Of these, during the winter training period alone (November 2024 to February 2025), 1,548 teams from 29 sports, with a cumulative total of 350,000 athletes, visited Jeollanam-do, solidifying its position as the 'mecca of winter training camps.'

The economic impact during this period amounts to 36 billion won. The annual economic effect of attracting training camps has tripled in three years, from 31.5 billion won in 2022 to 94.3 billion won.

Jeollanam-do is making every effort to further expand the attraction of training camps by holding briefing sessions and familiarization tours to contribute to population growth and local economic revitalization. To build optimal sports infrastructure, the province selects cities and counties with outstanding performance in attracting training camps each year and provides incentives for the maintenance and renovation of sports facilities.

An official from Jeollanam-do stated, "Jeollanam-do is the optimal training destination, equipped with the perfect combination of climate, facilities, and support systems. We will continue to create an environment that satisfies athletes and coaches, further strengthening our status as the mecca of winter training camps."

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