An aerial view of LetsRun Park Yeongcheon. [Yeongcheon City]
An aerial view of LetsRun Park Yeongcheon. [Yeongcheon City]

LetsRun Park Yeongcheon, South Korea's fourth horse racing park, will begin full operations Sept. 11, Yeongcheon city in North Gyeongsang Province announced Thursday.

The park joins LetsRun facilities in Seoul (Gwacheon), Jeju and Busan-South Gyeongsang Province as the country's fourth such venue.

The park is designed to be more than a horse racing venue — it aims to offer a family-friendly destination where visitors can picnic and stroll through the infield park area.

Yeongcheon city said it expects the park to establish itself as a new leisure destination drawing visitors of all ages through a range of cultural and experiential programs after opening.

An official opening ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 13.

The ceremony will feature a special commemorative race, a performance by the Arirang Taemu demonstration team and a celebratory concert by the military band of the Army 3rd Officers Candidate School.

Opening festivals will be held Sept. 12-13 and Sept. 19-20, with rides, food stalls and hands-on activity booths prepared for families.

"We hope LetsRun Park Yeongcheon will grow beyond a horse racing facility into a leisure space enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, and become a signature tourism destination in Yeongcheon," a city official said.

Yeongcheon Mayor Kim Byeong-sam said it was a deeply meaningful moment to finally see the park make its debut after a long wait. "We hope LetsRun Park Yeongcheon will become more than a horse racing facility — a new leisure space where citizens and visitors can enjoy themselves together, and a landmark destination they will want to return to," he said.


kbj7653@heraldcorp.com