Busan City to Build a Senior-Focused Sports Complex for Improved Health and Well-being

Busan City is moving forward with plans to develop a comprehensive sports complex designed exclusively for seniors on Eulsukdo Island in the Saha-gu District. If the facility demonstrates a positive impact on senior health, the city intends to expand the project throughout the region.

On the 24th, Busan City reported completing a feasibility study and basic plan for the construction of the Healing Park, a sports facility catering specifically to the elderly population on Eulsukdo Island. The objective of Healing Park is to offer a space for the steadily growing elderly demographic to participate in leisure activities and enhance their overall well-being.

The plans encompass a 25,331 square meter area, featuring an 18-hole park golf course and a three-story indoor sports center. The sports center will house various facilities tailored for sports activities and hobbies, such as a dementia prevention counseling room, a health assessment and exercise prescription room, a gymnasium, and a multipurpose room. The feasibility study predicts an annual usage of 200,000 people, with a cost-benefit ratio of 0.86, higher than the 0.70 ratios typical for general public facilities.

As of last month, Busan's elderly population—those aged 65 and older—represents 21.8% of the city's total population of 3.3 million people, totaling 720,000 individuals. The national average for the elderly population ratio stands at 18.3%, ranking Busan as the fifth-highest in South Korea. City officials anticipate that the Healing Park will contribute positively to the mental and physical health of seniors by providing opportunities for health assessments, exercise prescriptions, and social interaction through sports activities.

A Busan City representative stated, "If the Healing Park proves highly effective in promoting senior health and utilization, we plan to gradually expand the project city-wide. Additionally, we will improve related facilities to ensure residents can access sports activities within 15 minutes of their homes."