Gyeonggi Province Launches 'Gyeonggi Marine Leisure Academy'...From Surfing to Yachting

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province will begin recruiting students for the '2022 Gyeonggi Marine Leisure Academy' starting on the 21st and will operate the program from April to July.

The 'Gyeonggi Marine Leisure Academy' is an educational program designed by the province for Gyeonggi Province residents who wish to experience and learn marine leisure sports, with the aim of expanding and promoting marine leisure culture.

This year, level-based educational courses have been introduced, including ▲Marine Leisure Safety Experience Training (1,372 participants) ▲Surfing Beginner Basics Course (2,000 participants) ▲General Class 2 (Motorboat) License Acquisition Training (230 participants) ▲Yacht License Acquisition Training (150 participants) ▲Advanced Leisure Vessel Operation Technology Training (40 participants) ▲Advanced Yacht Sailing Training (35 participants), totaling 6 educational programs to be operated in coastal areas of Gyeonggi including Gimpo Ara Marina, Ansan Tando Port, and Siheung Wave Park and Sihwa Lake.

Any Gyeonggi Province resident can apply, and recruitment is on a first-come, first-served basis. Marine Leisure Safety Experience Training is free of charge, while the remaining 5 educational programs are available at approximately 50% or less of regular training fees.

Kim Sung-gon, Director of the Marine and Fisheries Division of Gyeonggi Province, said "As the number of residents interested in marine leisure activities has increased, we have structured the educational programs to accommodate diverse user interests and skill levels. We expect activities such as surfing and other marine leisure pursuits to provide healing opportunities for residents exhausted by COVID-19."

Interested participants can apply starting on the 21st through the Gyeonggi Bay Integrated Portal (www.ggbada.co.kr). For more details, contact the Gyeonggi Pyeongtaek Port Authority (031-686-0677, 0637).