The "healthy city Seoul" initiative pledged by Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor, is taking shape along the Han River. On the afternoon of the 15th, at Gwangnaru Hangang Park in Gangdong District, Seoul, construction was in full swing to build pickleball courts by refurbishing an existing soccer field site. A banner reading "Pickleball court construction project" was hung on the outer wall of the construction site.
Citizens passing the site stopped and peered into the construction area. Park Min-ju, 33, said, "It used to be a soccer field, but I heard a pickleball court is going in," and added, "It's a sport I often saw on social media (SNS), so I want to try it once it opens."
Pickleball is a sport first started in 1965 by U.S. entrepreneur and politician Joel Pritchard. It developed from knocking a plastic ball with a ping-pong paddle on a badminton court. Players rally a perforated plastic ball with a racket slightly larger than a ping-pong paddle. The rules are simple, it is easy to learn, and it features a lower risk of injury relative to its workout benefits. It is spreading rapidly in countries including the United States, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom.
◇ 14 pickleball courts on the Han River… opening in March next year
According to the Seoul city government on the 22nd, the Future Han River Headquarters, which manages Han River facilities, has been building 14 outdoor pickleball courts at Gwangnaru Hangang Park since Oct. It was originally used as a soccer field, but due to low utilization, the city decided to switch sports. This is the first time pickleball courts are being installed on the Han River, and it will be the largest in the country. An official at the Future Han River Headquarters said, "Basic facilities on a site of about 4,000㎡ (1,210 pyeong) are in the final stage," adding, "We are proceeding with construction aiming to open in March next year."
Currently, there are only eight public pickleball courts in Seoul, including four at the Gangdong District reservoir and four at Seoul Forest. When the Gwangnaru Hangang Park pickleball courts open, the number of public facilities in Seoul will increase to 22. There are also privately operated indoor pickleball courts, but critics say the rental fee, which reaches 20,000–30,000 won on weekends, is burdensome. The Seoul city government plans to set the fee for public pickleball courts at the same level as public tennis courts, 8,000 won for two hours.
Pickleball gained recognition as it became known as a sport enjoyed by high-profile celebrities and the affluent, including Microsoft (MS) founder Bill Gates, actors Emma Watson and Leonardo DiCaprio, and singer Taylor Swift.
Enthusiasts are growing rapidly in Korea as well, but supply is failing to meet demand due to a lack of facilities. Lee Dong-min, head of the Gangdong District Pickleball Association, said, "It's routine to have 30 to 40 people waiting to play," adding, "Expectations are high for the public pickleball courts the Seoul city government is building."
◇ In step with Oh Se-hoon's "healthy city Seoul" policy
The Seoul city government's move to spread pickleball is part of the "healthier Seoul 9988" policy being pushed by Oh Se-hoon, the Seoul mayor. The city determined it is suitable as a recreational sport that anyone, regardless of age or gender, can enjoy without burden. The city is also considering hosting a tournament next year.
According to the Seoul city government, the life expectancy of Seoul residents is 83.2 years, but healthy life expectancy—living without disease—is only 70.8 years. The exercise practice rate is just 26.8%. The city aims to raise healthy life expectancy to 74 years and the exercise practice rate to 30% by 2030.
Pickleball is also space-efficient. Four pickleball courts can be built on one tennis court, and at least 14 can fit on a soccer-field-size site. If 22 people can exercise at one soccer field, pickleball can accommodate up to 56 people playing doubles at the same time.
A Seoul city official said, "Pickleball is highly accessible and offers strong exercise benefits," adding, "After opening Gwangnaru Hangang Park, we plan to expand facilities step by step while monitoring public response."