National Sports Festival Flame, Kindled at Manisan on Ganghwa Island, to Travel 115 Sections via Five Jeju Islands

[Financial News | Jeju] — Reporter Jeong Yong-bok: The flame for the 107th National Sports Festival, kindled at Manisan Mountain on Ganghwa Island, has begun a relay journey linking Jeju’s five outlying islands with 115 sections on the main island.
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province said on the 4th that the National Sports Festival flame was kindled at Manisan Mountain on Ganghwa Island the previous day after a ceremony honoring the heavens and a sacred dance by the Seven Fairies.
This torch relay is distinctive in that it adds special relays on five outlying islands to the usual overland relay through the downtown areas of Jeju City and Seogwipo City. The flame will be carried to Chuja Islands, Biyangdo Island, Gapado Island, Marado Island and Udo Island, linking Jeju’s main island and outlying islands in a single torch route.
The first outlying-island relay begins on Chuja Islands on the 4th. The flame will then move to Biyangdo Island, Gapado Island and Marado Island on the 6th, followed by Udo Island on the 7th.
The relay format differs from island to island. On Biyangdo Island, a drone and a torchbearer will pass the flame to each other. Boat-based maritime relays will take place off Gapado Island and Marado Island, while local residents will carry the flame themselves on Chuja Islands and Udo Island. The combined use of aerial and maritime transport reflects Jeju’s geographical character as an island region.
A separate flame will be kindled at Haneul Pond in Jeju Stone Park on the 13th. After the flame brought from Manisan Mountain is merged with the one kindled at Jeju Stone Park, the main relay across Jeju Province will begin on the 14th.

The relay on Jeju’s main island will take place across 115 sections over three days. About 900 torchbearers were selected through public recruitment and recommendations from relevant organizations and groups.
The composition of the participants also carries symbolic significance. Two family teams, including babies born this year, will carry the flame, while Jeju athletes, including national team members and medalists, will also take part in the relay.
The Association of Families of 4·3 Victims and the Association of Retired Police Officers will also participate in the relay. The aim is to convey the values of reconciliation and coexistence through the flame, moving beyond the conflicts of Jeju’s modern history.
The flame will depart from the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office on the 14th, pass through Nohyeong, Dodu, Iho, Oedo, Aewol, Hallim and Hangyeong, then return through Yongdam, Samdo, Ildo, Geonip and Ora in Jeju City’s old downtown area before arriving at Jeju City Hall.
On the 15th, the flame will leave Jeju City Hall, pass through Ildo, Ara, Bonggae, Hwabuk, Samyang, Jocheon and Gujwa, continue through Seongsan, Pyoseon and Namwon, and reach Seogwipo City Hall.
On the final day, the 16th, the flame will depart from Seogwipo City Hall and pass through Jeongbang, Cheonji, Donghong, Yeongcheon, Hyodon and Songsan. It will then travel through Daejeong, Andeok, Yerae, Jungmun, Daecheon and Daeryun before arriving at Jeju World Cup Stadium in the afternoon.

The opening ceremony of the 107th National Sports Festival will be held that day at Jeju World Cup Stadium, where the flame will make its final stop. The torch relay that began at Manisan Mountain will conclude with the lighting of the flame.
The relay route was designed to take the flame through various parts of the host region, helping expand the National Sports Festival into an event driven by local participation.
Rather than concentrating the relay only in the main island’s urban areas, organizers expanded participation to residents of the outlying islands, families with newborns, Jeju athletes and 4·3 bereaved families, bringing together people from different generations, regions and groups. In particular, the drone relay on Biyangdo Island and the maritime relays off Gapado Island and Marado Island reflect Jeju’s geographical character as an island.
Hong Ho-jin, head of Jeju Province’s National Sports Festival Planning Team, said, "I hope the flame traveling through every corner of Jeju will cheer on the challenge and passion of the teams coming to Jeju from across the country and become a symbol of harmony connecting residents and athletes."
The 107th National Sports Festival will open on the 16th and run through the 22nd across Jeju.


[email protected] Jeong Yong-bok Reporter