"3 to 3 basketball, which gives hope and potential to local residents and students, will make it bigger." Salesman Promises Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-soo to Revive Samcheok

Nov 24, 2024

Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-soo is making a trial to mark the opening at the 2024 Hydrogen Dream Samchuk National 3-on-3 Basketball Festival, which opened on the 23rd at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Gangwon-do. Courtesy of KOREA3X3

"It's a perfect competition that brought new life to Samchuk."

Samcheok, a city on the right end of Gangwon-do, bordering the east coast, is one of the 'demographic areas'. The population, which once boasted more than 300,000 people, has plummeted to about 62,000 now. This is the result of a series of negative factors such as a reduction in the local economy due to changes in the industrial structure, a surge in younger generations' migration to large cities such as Seoul, a decline in fertility rates, and an aging population. In fact, this phenomenon is not unique to Samcheok. 89 local governments nationwide have been designated as 'population extinction areas'. The biggest concern for heads of local governments in the region depends on how to slow down the population decline and revitalize the local economy.

The same applies to Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-soo (67). Mayor Park, who took office as the 16th mayor of Samcheok, Gangwon State through the 8th national simultaneous local election in 2022, drew support from local residents by suggesting new solutions to these issues from his election pledges. Mayor Park, who is from Samcheok and has been active in the region for a long time, served as the chairman of the Gangwon-do Council and the president of the Samcheok Football Association, knew exactly the essence of the local problem. With the methods that have been released so far, it is difficult to save Samcheok, which is already on the verge of population extinction. It was time for a new paradigm shift.

A player who participated in the 2024 Hydrogen Dream Three-to-Three Basketball Festival held from the 23rd to the 24th at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Gangwon-do is dribbling and attempting to break through. Courtesy of KOREA3X3

A player who participated in the 2024 Hydrogen Dream Three-to-Three Basketball Festival held from the 23rd to the 24th at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Gangwon-do is shooting a jumper shot. Courtesy of KOREA3X3

▶ Introduction of young energy through sports (3:3 basketball)

Meeting at such a time of concern was the Samcheok National 3-3 Basketball Festival hosted by KOREA 3X3 (new name of the Korea 3-3 Basketball Federation). It is Mayor Park who has poured out generous support to root out the competition, which was first experimentally conducted in Samcheok in 2021, as a specialty of Samcheok. For the first time in Korea, the "Three to Three Basketball Festivals in Korea" has become a new type of sports competition that encompasses sports events and sports (the convergence of sports, vacation, and travel) and sports mentoring (education).

The '2024 Hydrogen Dream Samcheok National 3 vs 3 Basketball Festival' held at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium on the 23rd is the fourth work created by Samcheok City and KOREA 3X3. Mayor Park visited the site to encourage the participants and had serious conversations with university student mentors and local students who voluntarily participated in the 'Career Advancement Mentoring Camp' as one of the detailed programs.

It is clear why Mayor Park is showing sincerity in the `Three vs. Three Competitions.' This is because it is the best competition to realize the goals of 'regional regeneration' and 'support for career advancement of local students' and ' Samcheok as a sports mecca in Gangwon Province' at once.

Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-soo (fourth from right) encourages college students who participated in the career counseling camp, which was held as a corner of the 2024 Hydrogen Dream Samchuk National 3:3 Basketball Festival, which opened on the 23rd at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Gangwon-do. Courtesy of KOREA3X3

Mayor Park said, `More than 1,000 applicants flocked to this competition within two days of application. This energy of young students is the energy that can revive Samcheok." He also said "It is especially touching to see mentoring camps where prestigious university students who participated in the competition take the time to meet with local students. Originally, one of my campaign promises was to promote the establishment of a career support center for local students. In this way, college seniors in Seoul and junior middle and high school students in the region make the mentor-mentee relationship natural, and local students go up to Seoul to participate in career camps, making my pledge a reality."

Mayor Park's priority is the basis of the 'mentoring camp' pursued by KOREA 3X3 for regional win-win and expansion of educational opportunities through sports events'. KOREA 3X3 held its first 'Samchuk Sports Mentoring 1st and 2nd Advancement Camps' from early July to mid-August. Twenty mentors at Yonsei University and a total of 20 students from Samcheok (10 middle school students - 10 high school students, 15 men) selected by the recommendation of the principal spent time together at the sports mentoring camp and serious discussions on career and advancement.

Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-soo (right) is taking a commemorative photo encouraging the participants at the 2024 Hydrogen Dream Samchuk National 3-on-3 Basketball Festival, which opened on the 23rd at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Gangwon-do. Courtesy of KOREA3X3

▶3 to 3 basketball to revive the sluggish local economy and promote Samcheok nationwide

Revitalization of local education is also an important solution, but the most fundamental part to be solved is to improve population disappearance and the stagnation of the local economy. Mayor Park said "As can be seen from the number reduced from 300,000 to 60,000, Samcheok is a population-threatening area, and the local economy is also in a deep slump. In this situation, the inflow of the floating population and the increase in interest through sports competitions can be expected to improve in the shortest time. It has hosted 22 nationwide sports competitions this year. Local accommodations, restaurants, and tourist facilities are revitalized thanks to the arrival of participants, family members, and cheering groups. We are experiencing a definite effect."

Samcheok Mayor Park Sang-soo smiles brightly as he celebrates the opening at the 2024 Hydrogen Dream Three-to-Three Basketball Festival, which opened on the 23rd at Samcheok Civic Gymnasium in Gangwon-do. Courtesy of KOREA3X3

Mayor Park plans to turn Samcheok City into a sports mecca in Gangwon Province and a sacred place for three to three basketball. He said the catchphrase during the mayoral election was 'I'll save the economy' Samcheok's elderly population is 30%, and the population is gradually decreasing. We cannot stop this phenomenon immediately. However, improvements can be made while minimizing them. I want to create a new identity of Samcheok with a hydrogen base city, a 10 million tourist city, and a representative sports city in Gangwon Province. The national three-on-three basketball tournament is having a very good effect. I want to increase the size of the competition even more," he stressed.

wman@sportschosun.com