1. Study Objectives and Methods
❚ Research objectives
￮ This study aims to present the need and justification for constructing a national training center in Jeonbuk and to suggest plans that distinguish it from existing national training centers.
￮ Specifically, this study 1) analyzes the events of the Olympics and the Asian Games and the central government’s sports policies to present the need to construct a national training center; 2) justifies the construction of a Jeonbuk national training center by analyzing the general and sports-related environments of Jeonbuk and Namwon and deriving the region’s competitive edge; and 3) proposes stage-specific construction plans to distinguish it from existing national training centers by examining programs for promising young athletes, national training centers’ facilities and operations, and sponsorships in the sports industry.
❚ Research methods
￮ We employed literature research and expert consultation to review the need to create a regional flagship training center for national athletes and a sports industry cluster, focusing on designing systematic programs to cultivate promising young athletes, building comprehensive training facilities for youth players, and diversifying sports facilities.
￮ Through a business feasibility study, we leveraged the statistical data of Jeonbuk’s and Namwon’s natural, human, and sports environments and potential project sites, and conducted relevant analyses to derive a competitive edge for a Jeonbuk national training center. For the analysis of the sports environment, we carried out a literature review and an on-site inspection simultaneously.
￮ For situational analyses, we identified problems by delving into the way youth athletes are currently cultivated. To present room for improvement, we conducted comparative analyses based on the facilities’ data and national training centers’ operational status at home and abroad. Furthermore, through literature research and expert consultation sessions, we reviewed the possibility of embracing the events added to the Olympics and the Asian Games.
2. Conclusion and Policy Suggestion
❚ Research results
￮ Jeonbuk is the center of the southern part of the nation’s central region, bordering Chungbuk, Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, and Jeonnam. In addition, Namwon is an important transportation hub that connects all major regions of the nation, serving as an optimal location for a proposed regional flagship national training center.
￮ Jeonbuk has the fourth largest number of athletes nationwide and Namwon has hosted a series of international and national sports events and has subsequently developed outstanding sports infrastructure. Namwon’s local government is also ready to provide support for the region’s sports development. In summary, the region has tremendous growth potential with its well-established infrastructure and could set a good example for balanced regional development through the creation of a sports industry cluster.
￮ Our analytical findings reveal the need to develop new and innovative systems for young athletes and secure alternatives to events when facilities are unavailable in existing national training centers. Moreover, fostering the sports industry centered on sports products to overcome regional limitations is needed as there is a disproportional weight in favor of sports services.
❚ Policy Suggestion
￮ Among the potential project sites of Yongsan, Deoksan and Shinsaeng, we recommend that Shinsaeng be the top priority in terms of accessibility, utilization of training facilities, and life convenience.
￮ We propose a step-by-step project to allow for limited public resources and minimize the problems that may arise from building everything simultaneously. As a first step, a sports complex for youth athletes needs to be constructed to accommodate events that existing national training centers cannot afford as well as events in which Jeonbuk and Namwon have competitive advantages. As supporting facilities, we propose installing a learning support center, a human rights protection center, and a sports healthcare center.
￮ The next stage is to accommodate additional events to strengthen the regional flagship center’s function and to install a sports career center and an open play center as supporting facilities. In the third stage, we propose installing a sports enterprise R&D support center to foster the network between athletes and private companies, which will lead to creating a sports industry cluster through increased collaborations between sports-related institutes and private companies.
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