Culture ministry vows support for 2027 Chungcheong Universiade one year out

The culture ministry pledged full government backing for the 2027 Chungcheong Summer Universiade as organizers marked one year until the opening ceremony. Vice Minister Kim Dae-hyun attended a commemorative event in Daejeon on Friday to inspect preparations and join local leaders in vowing a successful tournament.

Roughly 450 officials, including the mayors of Daejeon and Sejong, the governor of North Chungcheong Province, and the acting head of the organizing committee, gathered at the Daejeon Dream Arena to unify the four host regions and heighten public interest.

Organized by the International University Sports Federation, the games are scheduled to run from Aug. 1 to 12, 2027, across Daejeon, Sejong, and North and South Chungcheong provinces. The event is expected to draw approximately 15,000 participants, including athletes aged 18 to 25, officials and media from about 150 countries.

Construction and renovation work is underway at 76 venues, with three new stadiums being built and 33 existing facilities undergoing repairs. All projects are scheduled to be completed by May 2027. The organizing committee also appointed a general director for the opening and closing ceremonies in January.

"With the combined strength and charm of Chungcheong and the united mind of the region, this will surely become a successful event that attracts the world's attention," Kim said. "The government plans to gather all its capabilities to actively support the event so it can serve as a success story that raises South Korea's capacity to host international competitions to the next level."