Busan opens runner support spaces at Geumnyeonsan Station and APEC Naru Park
In short
Busan city said on October 20 that it has opened runner support spaces at Geumnyeonsan Station and APEC Naru Park, bringing the city's total to five. The spaces have changing rooms and lockers. The city also announced a running event on October 23, a running festival on November 14 and a marathon on December 6.
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Busan city said on October 20 that it has opened runner support spaces at Geumnyeonsan Station on the urban rail network and at APEC Naru Park. Yonhap reported that the city said it had recently completed work on the two sites. The addition brings the number of such spaces in Busan to five. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The spaces are facilities with changing rooms and lockers for people who run, cycle or do other sports. Seoul Economic Daily reported that the Geumnyeonsan Station space is inside a Line 2 station, and that it is expected to serve people who run along Gwangalli beach and on the Geumnyeonsan trail. The APEC Naru Park space is meant for people using the riverside walking path and the pedestrian bridge, according to the reports. [ 1 , 2 ]
The city opened its first runner support space at Dadaepo in March. In May it set up auxiliary support spaces at Busan Citizens Park and Bukhang Waterfront Park. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The city plans to link the spaces to running programmes. It will support participants in the weekly 'Dallyeora Busan' running crew (달려라부산 러닝크루) near APEC Naru Park. On the 23rd it will hold a special running programme at Samik Beach Waterfront Park to mark the Geumnyeonsan Station space. A running festival, the 'Dallyeora Busan Running Festival', is set for November 14 around Bukhang Waterfront Park. On December 6 the city plans to hold the Busan Bridge Marathon, which is certified by World Athletics and links Gwangan Bridge, Busan Harbor Bridge and Namhang Bridge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Nam Jeong-eun (남정은), head of the city's sports bureau, said the city would keep increasing community sports facilities that use idle space, according to Seoul Economic Daily and Yonhap. Seoul Economic Daily also quoted him as saying he hoped the spaces would improve convenience for exercise and help spread running culture in daily life. [ 1 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The openings extend a network of running facilities that the city began in March, and the city links them to running programmes and races. The documents give no figures on use or cost.
Key facts
- Busan city announced on October 20 that it had set up runner support spaces at Geumnyeonsan Station on the urban rail network and at APEC Naru Park. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The spaces are equipped with changing rooms and lockers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- With the two new sites, Busan has five runner support spaces. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The first space opened at Dadaepo in March; auxiliary support spaces followed at Busan Citizens Park and Bukhang Waterfront Park in May. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A special running programme marking the Geumnyeonsan Station space is planned for the 23rd at Samik Beach Waterfront Park. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The 'Dallyeora Busan Running Festival' is set for November 14 around Bukhang Waterfront Park. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Busan Bridge Marathon, certified by World Athletics, is scheduled for December 6 and links Gwangan Bridge, Busan Harbor Bridge and Namhang Bridge. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Busan city said it set up runner support spaces at Geumnyeonsan Station and APEC Naru Park, equipped with changing rooms and lockers. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The city's runner support spaces now number five, after Dadaepo in March and Busan Citizens Park and Bukhang Waterfront Park in May. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The city plans a special running programme on the 23rd, a running festival on November 14 and a World Athletics-certified bridge marathon on December 6. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The exact opening date of the two new spaces The documents say only that the city announced them on October 20; one says they were opened this month and another that they were recently completed.
- How the spaces will be used and staffed The documents do not give opening hours, usage figures or costs.