First extreme sports venue in Seoul's northeast draws more than 35,000 visitors since opening; X-TOP international exchange competition winner Kang Jun-i claims Asian Games gold
Nowon-gu in Seoul is expanding its community sports infrastructure to support the healthy development of young residents.
The district is building out extreme sports and indoor leisure facilities so teenagers can experience the joy of challenge and a sense of achievement through athletic activity. The goal is to create venues that reflect youth interests and tastes while encouraging wholesome recreational habits.
The flagship facility is Nowon X-TOP, located at Nohae Sports Park. The first extreme sports venue in Seoul's northeastern area, X-TOP covers 2,000 square meters and accommodates skateboarding, BMX, aggressive inline skating and stunt scootering. Since opening in November 2024, it has drawn a cumulative total of about 35,000 visitors through September this year.
The facility is divided into three zones: a "street" section featuring obstacles, a "transition" area using inclined surfaces, and a "bowl" zone for riding along curved surfaces. Skaters of all levels — from beginners to advanced riders — can practice a range of techniques suited to their ability. Skill-level skateboarding lessons are also offered so newcomers can build a foundation from the ground up.
Equipped with a variety of apparatus and a professional training environment, X-TOP has also become a hub for elite athletes to train and exchange skills. Last July, four members of the national skateboarding team trained at the facility. One of them, Kang Jun-i, won South Korea's first-ever Asian Games gold medal in skateboarding — taking the men's street event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September.
Kang had also competed in the X-TOP International Exchange Competition last year, winning the skateboarding Class A event. That competition drew 113 domestic and international athletes, with an average participant age of 16.4. It served as a platform for young athletes to compete against overseas peers and share skills and experience.
Beyond extreme sports, the district is also expanding its indoor leisure and community sports facilities.
JUMP, an indoor multi-activity leisure complex billed as the largest of its kind in South Korea, held its official opening on Oct. 2. It features indoor karting, aerial zip lines, an artificial climbing wall and other hands-on attractions, offering active recreation year-round regardless of weather or season.
A new Junggye Community Sports Center — housing a swimming pool, an indoor gymnasium and a fitness center — is also under construction at Nohae Sports Park. The district plans to continue expanding facilities so residents of all ages, including teenagers, can enjoy community sports in their daily lives.
"We hope Nowon X-TOP becomes a space where young people can experience challenge and achievement in a safe environment and discover their own potential," Nowon-gu District Mayor Seo Jun-o said. "We will keep expanding community sports facilities that reflect the interests and needs of youth, so that everyone can enjoy sports in their everyday lives and grow up healthy."
seouldream01@heraldcorp.com
