National Sports Festival equestrian events, pulled from Jeju 12 years ago, will run in Jeju this time

【Financial News | Jeju: Reporter Jeong Yong-bok】 The National Sports Festival equestrian events, whose staging in Jeju fell through 12 years ago amid controversy over the venue, will be held in Jeju on the 16th. At the time, the venue was changed to Incheon just eight days before the festival opened. This year, however, Jeju National University's equestrian arena was confirmed as the final venue.
Jeju National University said on the 12th that the equestrian events of the 107th National Sports Festival will be held from the 16th to the 18th at its Equine Industry Workforce Development Center. Teams representing all 17 cities and provinces, along with around 150 horses, are expected to take part. The university has completed preparations, including arena improvements and safety management for athletes and horses.
The event is significant for Jeju's equestrian community, which will host the National Sports Festival at home for the first time in 12 years. At the 95th National Sports Festival, held in Jeju in 2014, the equestrian events were moved to Incheon after controversy over whether facilities at Jeju National University's equestrian arena—including the surface, drainage system and stables—were adequate.
At the time, Jeju Province built a new equestrian arena for the National Sports Festival but was unable to host the event there. It later filed a damages lawsuit against the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) and the Korea Equestrian Federation, and a ruling in Jeju Province's favor in part became final in 2017.
At the 83rd National Sports Festival, held in Jeju in 2002, the equestrian events were also spread across venues in other regions. This year's event will resolve the problem of Jeju hosting the National Sports Festival but being unable to hold its equestrian events locally.
Ahead of this year's event, Jeju Province and Jeju National University undertook extensive renovations to the arena facilities. The number of horse stalls has increased from 53 last year to 190, and the venue is also equipped with 24 horse-washing bays, water supply and ventilation systems, and support spaces for event operations.
The arena surface has been leveled and its drainage improved, and routes for athletes and horses have been separated from those for regular vehicles and horse transport vehicles. Management systems have also been strengthened to protect the health of horses traveling from the mainland to Jeju, ensure biosecurity, and prevent accidents during competition.
In September, following an on-site inspection by the Korea Equestrian Federation, the Jeju Equestrian Association gave final approval for Jeju National University's Equine Industry Workforce Development Center to serve as the National Sports Festival equestrian venue. That same month, it held a preparatory equestrian competition at venues including Jeju National University's equestrian arena to assess how the events would be run.
The 107th National Sports Festival is hosted by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and jointly organized by Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Office of Education, and the Jeju Special Self-Governing Provincial Sports Council. The full festival will be held across Jeju from the 16th to the 22nd.
Jeju was designated the country's first special zone for the horse industry in 2014. Despite having industry infrastructure for horse breeding and raising, training, and equestrian facilities, Jeju had been unable to host the National Sports Festival equestrian events. This year's event is expected to showcase the foundations of Jeju's horse industry and its ability to run competitions to the rest of the country.
Do Gyeong-tak, director of Jeju National University's Equine Industry Workforce Development Center, said, “We have done everything possible with the arena facilities, biosecurity and safety management so that athletes and horses coming from across the country can perform at their best.” He added, “I hope this event will help introduce the appeal of equestrian sports to residents.”


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