Chairman of the Racing Authority, “It will be difficult to relocate Gwacheon Racecourse within 6 years… Relocation costs need to be preserved.”

“The judo team and table tennis team need to be disbanded from a financial perspective… The direction is not to renew the contract.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Han Joo-hong = Regarding the relocation of the Gwacheon Racecourse promoted by the government on the 16th, Woo Hee-jong, president of the Korea Racing Authority, said, "If it is a normal procedure, we believe that relocation within 6 years will be difficult."

Chairman Woo responded as follows when People Power Party lawmaker Kim Yong-tae asked for his opinion on the government's explanation that relocation and completion would be possible within 6 years if the preliminary feasibility study (pre-feasibility study) is waived during a government audit of the Korea Racing Authority by the National Assembly's Agriculture, Food, Rural Affairs, Oceans and Fisheries Committee.

Regarding relocation costs, it was expected to cost approximately 2.4 trillion won, excluding land purchase costs.

When Rep. Kim asked whether the proceeds from the sale of the site would be used to cover relocation costs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs would compensate for the shortfall, Chairman Woo responded, "It hasn't been finalized yet and we're discussing it."

Chairman Woo emphasized, “We are asking the government to guarantee clear conservation.”

Regarding whether the previous site will be sold to Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH), he answered, "I have not heard that it has been confirmed as LH."

Regarding the recently controversial issue of disbanding the Judo Team and the Table Tennis Team of the Racing Authority, he said, "I think it should be done in the long term from a financial perspective," and added, "I think we need to connect the athletes to a place that can sufficiently support them."

When asked by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Yang-soo whether he had confirmed and notified the disbandment of the two athletes, Chairman Woo responded, “There has been no such thing.”

However, regarding the direction of the team's management, he said, "We decided not to renew the contract," and "We have been in a real deficit since last year, so it is difficult to provide sufficient support."