Tag: sport

Sports and Activities

Finding Community in Gwangju Through Running

Gwangju News

“I came across a group called Running Running (러닝러닝) in Suwan (수완) that ran every Tuesday and Thursday night. With hopeful anticipation, I arrived early. Slowly the club members started arriving and welcomed me warmly. They all ran at varying paces, but we started and finished together. The leader invited me to consider running in the upcoming 11th Gwangju Peace and Unification Marathon (제11회 광주평화통일마라톤대회), announcing that they all signed up for the 10-km  race. I signed up that night.”

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An San: Shooting with Joy

Gwangju News

While developing the skills, discipline, and physicality required to become a champion is no doubt taxing, she offered the following advice to those who would like to follow in her footsteps: “If you always train with joy and do your best, you will get good results. Go for it!”

Sports and Activities

Hwasun’s Nineteenth Annual Marathon

Gwangju News

On the first weekend of November, the county of Hwasun was host to the 19th Annual Dolmen Marathon (제19회 화순 고인돌 마라톤 대회). In addition to being surprisingly well attended, it was one of the most well-organized, exciting, and high-energy race events that I’ve attended in about a decade.

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Gwangju FC’s Victory and Hopes for 2023: Interview with Ahn Young-kyu

Gwangju News

2022 couldn’t have been a better comeback for Gwangju FC, one of the two professional sports club in this city of 1.5 million. Its winning in K League 2, putting it back to K League 1 next year, gives hope to the football (soccer) club that has been having an up-and-down history in its involvement in the Korea Football League.

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Jun Woong-tae: Leading Korea in the Modern Pentathlon

Gwangju News

South Korea has been participating in the modern pentathlon in the Olympics since 1964, but it was only 57 years later, at the Tokyo Olympics, that Korea finally won a medal. Jun Woong-tae, who is originally from Seoul but represents Gwangju as a member of the City Hall club, earned a bronze medal for Korea, making it the first-ever medal for the country, and finished the competition with 1,470 points. To Jun, his bronze medal is as valuable as winning gold. However, he aims to have the Taegukki (태극기, Korea’s national flag) fly even higher in future Olympic Games. Aside from the bronze, Jun has also won four gold medals at UIPM World Championships and another gold at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Sports and Activities

Keeping the Beautiful Game Alive

Gwangju News

Every Sunday at 2 p.m. – come rain, shine, or scorching summer heat – players from countries like Canada, Iran, the US, Uzbekistan, the UK, and Korea take to the pitch to show off their skills for a couple of hours. Like all sports, there can be a competitive edge to the game, but the team does not take itself too seriously, hence its slogan “You’ll Never Drink Alone.” 

Local Enterpreneur Sports and Activities

Getting Familiar with CrossFit at YongBong Training Center: An Interview with Owner and Head Coach Yang In-sung

Gwangju News

Following the recent article about Korea gyms in the May issue of Gwangju News and a brief introduction to CrossFit some six years ago in Gwangju News issue no. 167, I hoped to unveil some CrossFit mysteries and share more information with anyone who might still be wondering what CrossFit is and whether it is something for them. Mr. Yang In-sung, the owner and head coach of YongBong Training Center where I began my CrossFit adventure, was so kind to agree to talk to me about CrossFit in general, CrossFit in Korea, and CrossFit in Gwangju.

Sports and Activities

Hustle for Muscle: A Primer on Korean Gyms

Gwangju News

Gwangju is particularly blessed with an abundance of fitness centers that are more often than not clean, well-equipped, affordable, and offer a wide range of activities. If you have ever considered joining a gym and live in Gwangju, there is really no excuse not to sign up for a three-month, six-month, or year-long membership and to either begin or continue your fitness journey.