[Herald Economy=Senior Reporter Park Jong-il]# “Where should I work out today?”In Songpa, that’s a pleasant dilemma. People walk and run along Seokchon Lake; amateur players trade volleys along Seongnae Stream; cheers drift from ballparks along the Tancheon; and seniors warm up at neighborhood parks. Exercising is part of everyday life here.
On the 12th, Songpa District said it has expanded public sports facilities and upgraded existing ones to meet growing demand for community athletics, making it easier for residents to exercise close to home.
Park golf has surged in popularity. Last April, the district opened a park golf course at the Jamsil Retention Basin featuring a nine-hole course, a putting practice area and an athletics track. This month, in partnership with Gangdong District, it opened another nine-hole park golf course at the Seongnae Retention Basin in Bangi-dong.
“I’ve been counting the days until a park golf course opened near my house,” said Park Dong-su of Pungnap 2-dong, who visited the Seongnae course. “I’ll walk there with family and neighbors and take better care of my health.”
Upgrades targeted sport-specific facilities and their surrounding environments. The district resurfaced the artificial turf courts at Songpa Tennis Courts (Sept. 2025) and Oryun Tennis Courts (Apr. 2026) so they remain playable after rain or snow, and it refurbished rest areas and shower rooms.
Bookings for the Songpa Women’s Football Ground — home to the Songpa women’s soccer team — fill up every month. In Dec. 2024 the district added a futsal field next door to give residents more options for organized play.
At the Tancheon Retention Basin, officials fully renovated an old jokgu court (May 2026) and reopened it. They also replaced the baseball field’s lighting (Oct. 2025) to allow night games. Soccer, futsal, badminton and basketball courts sit together there, making the complex ideal for local clubs.
Pungnap Badminton Hall is indoors and available year-round. Together with the Jamsil 4-dong and 6-dong badminton courts, these facilities are free to the public. The Songpa Sports and Culture Center in Geoyeo-dong offers a pool, gym and squash courts and runs more than 500 ongoing sports and cultural programs.
Exercise options are dense across neighborhoods. The district has installed about 1,200 outdoor exercise machines in roughly 150 neighborhood parks. Gateball and jokgu courts are within easy reach of residential areas. In the second half of this year, a gym will open on the ground floor of youth housing near Jangji Station, and a sports garden will be created in Munjeong Culture Valley using underused space — further strengthening community sports infrastructure.
Community sports tie directly to public health. According to Seoul’s obesity statistics, as of 2025 Songpa’s obesity rate (BMI 25 and above) was 28.8%, 0.6 percentage points lower than the citywide average of 29.4%.
A Songpa District official said, “Exercise doesn’t require a grand resolve. When good spaces exist near home, people start naturally. We will keep improving community sports environments so every resident can stay healthy in daily life.”
Residents can check facility reservations and usage details on the Songpa District public sports facilities portal.
