High time to shine for Chungcheong: the ‘new centre of Korean culture’

ESSEN – The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games have created a “truly inspiring stage” on which student-athletes from all corners of the world have “come together as one through sport”, the president of the organising committee for the next edition of the multi-sport event said on Friday.

Organising Committee President Kang Changhee (pictured above) was addressing members of the global media at a press conference inside Messe Essen as he laid out plans for the Chungcheong region in Republic of Korea to host its first international multi-sport event in two years’ time.

Following the decentralised staging concept adopted by the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU Games, the neighbouring cities of Daejeon, Sejong, Chungbuk, and Chungnam will join forces under the name ‘Chungcheong Mega City’.

“We wish to continue that journey in 2027,” OC President Kang said. “During our Games, we aim to show the world how an international sporting event can drive balance to regional growth and bring people together through a strong spirit of community.

“The Games will go beyond sport; there will become a stage for the next generation where the values of sustainability and inclusion come to life.”

New wave

Organisers said the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games will present a “new wave” of Korean culture to the world by blending tradition and sports. The Opening and Closing Ceremonies will use typical Korean culture loved by people around the world, and regional content.

“Chungcheong is the centre of the Korean peninsula, so we have both Korean culture and a local culture,” Lee Changseob, the vice-president of the organising committee, told the FISU Games News Service. “As an example, we have our own dialect, and our culture is a little bit different to other parts of Korea. So we’re presenting this to our international spectators and participants.”

During the press conference, OC Vice President Lee also explained how the organising committee had arrived at its choices for the three optional sports on the programme for 2027.

“For beach volleyball, one of the host cities for our Games – Boryeong – has this very iconic mud festival, so we would like to combine our Games with that to create more of a festival feel,” he said.

“We already have a very good rowing venue, so we would like to utilise it. And golf is popular from the young to old generations. Plus our players are very good at it, so we think they will win the gold medals.”

If OC Vice President Lee (pictured below) delivered that final comment with a wry smile, he was not joking when he expressed his admiration for the late turnaround in the venues preparation made by his counterparts at Rhine-Ruhr 2025.

“The first time I arrived here, I was a little bit worried about the core competition preparation,” he said. “At that time, I didn’t think they were quite ready, but only two or three days later everything was set up, so I was quite surprised.

“I asked myself, ‘Is this possible?’ Because it is in Germany, so can Korea also do this? That is the first thing I felt – the German power.”

Tradition and innovation

Korean power is also quite something. The Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games will prepare a ‘K-SMART Games’ using advanced technology such as AI and 5G broadcasting, as well as a cutting-edge traffic management system to guide visitors quickly to the stadiums. In these ways, the committee hopes to harmoniously fuse tradition with innovation.

Eco-friendliness is another cornerstone of the staging concept. Organisers have pledged to prioritise the use of existing infrastructure over new construction – only two new stadiums are under construction, for tennis and gymnastics – and realise a sustainable FISU Games through eco-friendly accommodations, minimal waste, and environmentally-friendly food.

“We are fully dedicated to delivering a Games that is truly meaningful and unique, and Games that will fill everyone involved with pride and satisfaction,” OC President Kang told the world’s media on Friday.

“I have strong trust in the Korean people.”

The Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games will run from 1 to 12 August 2027. For more information, click here.

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Photo: © Michael Chisholm / Rhine-Ruhr 2025