Seoul Opens South Korea's Largest Pickleball Complex, Featuring 14 Courts

Seoul officially opens its new pickleball facility at Gwangnaru Hangang Park this weekend with a two-day event on March 28 and 29, featuring a family tournament and hands-on programs. The Gwangnaru Pickleball Complex brings 14 dedicated courts to the Han River, expanding Seoul's public pickleball infrastructure at a time when only eight public courts existed across the city; that number now rises to 22 with this opening.

The venue includes 14 courts and supporting facilities, designed as an accessible recreational space as the sport continues to grow in popularity. The area being turned into an outdoor pickleball facility was formerly a football pitch that was rarely used, so the city decided to repurpose it into a pickleball facility to cater to South Korea's steadily growing pickleball community. Spanning approximately 4,000 square metres near the soccer fields at the Han River Park Information Center, the complex also includes a management office, waiting zones, and rest facilities.

The opening weekend is expected to draw around 500 participants, with matches for families, beginners, and international players, alongside lessons and open play sessions. A ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on March 29, followed by exhibition games and finals. The programming is notably broad: organizers have built in "Three-Generation Family Pickleball" sessions, "Easy Pickleball" beginner clinics, and a "Global Pickleball" segment aimed specifically at foreign residents and international team categories, alongside competitive club divisions.

Additional on-site features include a "story zone" explaining the sport's background and rules, as well as a hands-on experience area where visitors can try pickleball equipment. Photo zones and social media events are also part of the weekend programming.

Park Jin-young, head of Seoul's Future Han River Headquarters, framed the complex in civic terms: "The Gwangnaru Pickleball Complex is a new recreational sports facility where citizens can easily enjoy physical activity. We hope many citizens will experience the appeal of pickleball."

The courts comprise the country's largest facility for the world's fastest-rising sport. The city's decision to act on that momentum follows years in which early adoption in South Korea was constrained by a shortage of purpose-built courts. The Gwangnaru complex, with 14 dedicated courts on 4,000 square metres of prime Han River parkland, is the most direct answer Seoul has given yet to that gap.

The official Seoul city site lists capacity at 500 users per day, with up to 56 people on site at a time. Reservations are available through the SMG Public Service Reservation website. For inquiries, the Dasan Call Center can be reached at 02-120 within South Korea or +82-2-731-2120 from abroad.