Namyangju city in Gyeonggi Province has officially entered the competition to host the relocated Gwacheon racetrack, positioning itself as the optimal site for a "future-oriented tourism hub."
The city announced on the 6th that it is formally pursuing the racetrack relocation, citing strategic benefits for balanced development and self-sufficiency in the northeastern Seoul metropolitan area.
Transportation infrastructure tops the city's competitive advantages. Rail expansion projects underway include GTX lines D, E, and F, along with extensions of Seoul Metro lines 4, 8, and 9. The city also highlighted excellent accessibility from across the metropolitan region via the new Jungbu Connection private expressway, the Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway, and the Seoul-Yangyang Expressway.
Demand from Wangsuk New Town—the largest of the third-generation new towns—represents another key selling point. City officials believe the facility's high-volume visitor characteristics, combined with efficient expressway and rail connections, will ensure both accessibility and revenue stability.
New public housing districts and green spaces are also seen as advantages for settlement conditions for Korea Racing Authority employees.
The city presented a "Blue-Green Tourism Belt" linking the Han River waterfront as its core vision. Plans include connecting the candidate site to the Han River via walking and cycling paths, while developing eco-friendly attractions such as animal-assisted therapy farms, rehabilitation horseback riding facilities, and ecological experience centers to create a stay-and-heal destination.
Economic ripple effects are expected to be substantial. If selected, the city projects over 4 million annual visitors and approximately 50 billion won in leisure tax revenue per year. Officials anticipate this will boost fiscal independence, expand public amenities, and enable reinvestment in welfare programs.
"Hosting the Gwacheon racetrack is a strategic project to prepare Namyangju for the next 100 years," Mayor Joo Kwang-deok said. "It will be the optimal solution for balanced metropolitan development, achieving both the spread of healthy leisure culture and regional economic revitalization."