Sports & Exercise
Team Sports
Cheongju Tigers- Foreigner Football/Soccer Team
The Cheongju Tigers are in Division 2 of the Seoul Sunday Football League. They have practice 2 nights a week, and games on Sundays. Half of their games are home games played in Cheongju, and the other half are away. Their Facebook page is Cheongju Tigers Football Club and their schedule can be found at the Seoul Sunday Football League website.
Daejeon/Cheongju Ice Hockey
They have skates at the Ice Rink in Chungdae on Sunday nights 7~9pm. Any level of player is welcome. Check out the Daejeon/Cheongju Ice Hockey Facebook group or contact the league commissioner Eric Bannerman.
Cheongju Reapers- Foreigner Baseball Team
The Reapers play against other amateur teams in Cheongju, and is open to players of all experience, and to foreigners and Koreans alike. The season lasts from March to November, and they play 2~3 games a month on the weekends. Practices are also on weekends. They play at either Cheongju Middle School near shinae, or Millennium Field near Yongam-dong. Their Facebook group is Cheongju Baseball Team.
Cheongju/Daejeon Knights- Foreigner Rugby Team
The Knights play 10-a-side rugby in the Korea 10's rugby league. They play about once a month, and the training happens in Daejeon the week before a game. The players come from many different cities in central Korea, and all ages and skill levels are welcome. Their Facebook group is Cheongju Daejeon Knights Rugby Club.
Cheongju Volleyball Group
This group meets on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 7pm at the Sangdang church next to E-Mart. Everyone is welcome! Their Facebook group is Cheongju Volleyball.
Ultimate Frisbee
They play pick-up games most Saturday afternoons, alternating between fields in Bongmyeong-dong and Bunpyeong-dong. All are welcome, even people who have never played Ultimate before. Check out the Facebook group Cheongju Ultimate Frisbee.
There is also the Cheongju Chewbaccas Ultimate Frisbee team that plays in the Republic of Korea Ultimate League. There are two seasons each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. If people want to play in the league, they should come to practice/pick-up games on Saturdays.
The Cheongju Tigers are in Division 2 of the Seoul Sunday Football League. They have practice 2 nights a week, and games on Sundays. Half of their games are home games played in Cheongju, and the other half are away. Their Facebook page is Cheongju Tigers Football Club and their schedule can be found at the Seoul Sunday Football League website.
Daejeon/Cheongju Ice Hockey
They have skates at the Ice Rink in Chungdae on Sunday nights 7~9pm. Any level of player is welcome. Check out the Daejeon/Cheongju Ice Hockey Facebook group or contact the league commissioner Eric Bannerman.
Cheongju Reapers- Foreigner Baseball Team
The Reapers play against other amateur teams in Cheongju, and is open to players of all experience, and to foreigners and Koreans alike. The season lasts from March to November, and they play 2~3 games a month on the weekends. Practices are also on weekends. They play at either Cheongju Middle School near shinae, or Millennium Field near Yongam-dong. Their Facebook group is Cheongju Baseball Team.
Cheongju/Daejeon Knights- Foreigner Rugby Team
The Knights play 10-a-side rugby in the Korea 10's rugby league. They play about once a month, and the training happens in Daejeon the week before a game. The players come from many different cities in central Korea, and all ages and skill levels are welcome. Their Facebook group is Cheongju Daejeon Knights Rugby Club.
Cheongju Volleyball Group
This group meets on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 7pm at the Sangdang church next to E-Mart. Everyone is welcome! Their Facebook group is Cheongju Volleyball.
Ultimate Frisbee
They play pick-up games most Saturday afternoons, alternating between fields in Bongmyeong-dong and Bunpyeong-dong. All are welcome, even people who have never played Ultimate before. Check out the Facebook group Cheongju Ultimate Frisbee.
There is also the Cheongju Chewbaccas Ultimate Frisbee team that plays in the Republic of Korea Ultimate League. There are two seasons each year: one in the spring and one in the fall. If people want to play in the league, they should come to practice/pick-up games on Saturdays.
Individual Fitness and Fun
Taekwondo/Hapkido
There are gyms all over the place in Cheongju. You should be able to find one easily in your neighborhood. Many offer classes in dance, aerobics, yoga, etc... as part of your membership. You might even get some personal training included, too. Expect to pay between 50,000~80,000 per month (depending on services offered), and you will get a discount for buying 3 or 6 months at a time.
Swimming Pool
You can pay a few thousand won for access to a swimming pool. A swim cap is required.
Driving Range
Practice your golf swing at one of many driving ranges in the city. You can use or rent clubs, and you pay per bucket of balls you use.
Screen Golf
Get your golf fix indoors! You use real clubs, but the screen in front shows you the virtual golf course. Many locations all over Cheongju (anyone have any specific locations to recommend?).
Climbing Wall/Gym
Dance Academy
Streets Dance Academy is in the same building as Kinopia movie theater in Chungdae. They offer hip-hop, K-Pop, and other kinds of dance classes. Quite a few foreigners take lessons there.
Badminton Courts
Bring your own equipment.
Yoga
Yoga classes conducted in English. All levels are welcome, no experience necessary.The class is Hatha yoga focusing on breath-centered movement, body awareness and alignment, and holistic well-being. It's at the You & Me Yoga Center (opposite Uam Elementary School, Cheongju University vicinity) on Monday/Wednesday/Friday 5:30-6:30. Contact Alex Swanson.
- TeunTeun Hapkido (튼튼 합기도). It's right off Sachang Sagori (look for the phone store with the yellow sign, and go left several doors down. 3rd floor). There was previously a small group of foreigners organized to do it together, and if you get a small group together, they would do it again. About 100,000 per month for hour-long classes five days a week. You can get a black belt in a year or two!
- Hapkido YongSulKwan in Sannam-dong. The teacher doesn't speak a lot of English, but he shows what needs to be done. Classes are W110,000 per month, and the dobok (gi/outfit) runs around W90,000. The classes are 9:30-10:30pm M-F, and it's a mixed adult/middle school age class. The phone number is 293-6333. To get there, go to the Samsung Service Center in Sannam-dong, and go down the road next to the Nonghyeop bank. Follow that road to the end, and it's on the second floor of the building in front of you.
There are gyms all over the place in Cheongju. You should be able to find one easily in your neighborhood. Many offer classes in dance, aerobics, yoga, etc... as part of your membership. You might even get some personal training included, too. Expect to pay between 50,000~80,000 per month (depending on services offered), and you will get a discount for buying 3 or 6 months at a time.
Swimming Pool
You can pay a few thousand won for access to a swimming pool. A swim cap is required.
- 청주실내수영장 ("Cheongju sheelay soo-young-jahng"). It's behind the big stadium and baseball field downtown. It's 3,000 won, and includes access to the gym.
- 충북체육회관 ("Choong-book chay-yook hway-gwahn"). It's in Yongam-dong, near the HiMart and the Hanaro Club. They seem to do all sorts of classes and AquaRobics, but just regular pool use is 3,500 per time, or you can pay 60,000 for a month. Check out their website for info and hours (in Korean).
Driving Range
Practice your golf swing at one of many driving ranges in the city. You can use or rent clubs, and you pay per bucket of balls you use.
- Try 청주 골프 연습장 ("Cheongju gohl-puh yuhn-sup-jahng") in Naedeok-dong.
Screen Golf
Get your golf fix indoors! You use real clubs, but the screen in front shows you the virtual golf course. Many locations all over Cheongju (anyone have any specific locations to recommend?).
Climbing Wall/Gym
- Between the Stadium and the Golden Temple, there's a Climbing Gym. Everyone is friendly, and lessons are included in the monthly fee. Open 6am-11pm.
- TAGY Climbing Center in Gaeshin-dong. From the Nonghyup Bank intersection, go to the corner with Lotteria, and walk away from the main road about a block. It's on your left. They have English-speaking staff.
Dance Academy
Streets Dance Academy is in the same building as Kinopia movie theater in Chungdae. They offer hip-hop, K-Pop, and other kinds of dance classes. Quite a few foreigners take lessons there.
Badminton Courts
Bring your own equipment.
- Lee Dong-Seob Badminton, 이동섭배드민턴 ("ee-dohng-suhp bed-meen-tuhn") in Mipyeong-dong, near Sae-gwang High School (세광고등학교). Has 6 courts on two floors.
- Cheongju Badminton/Taekwondo Gym, 청주배드민턴태권도체육관 ("Cheongju bed-meen-tuhn teh-kwuhn-doh chay-yook-gwahn"). Behind the high school that's behind the big stadium near downtown.
Yoga
Yoga classes conducted in English. All levels are welcome, no experience necessary.The class is Hatha yoga focusing on breath-centered movement, body awareness and alignment, and holistic well-being. It's at the You & Me Yoga Center (opposite Uam Elementary School, Cheongju University vicinity) on Monday/Wednesday/Friday 5:30-6:30. Contact Alex Swanson.
Watch Local Sports Teams
Hanwha Eagles
The local baseball team, Hanwha Eagles, play a third of their games for the season at the Cheongju Stadium in Sajik-dong. Take your own food and drink along. Tickets are 7,000 won, but you should buy them in advance because they sell out fast. More details about the team and their schedule can be found on the Hanwha Eagles website.
Cheongju Jikji
The local football/soccer team, Cheongju Jikji, play their home games in Yong-am-dong at the Yong-jeong Soccer Park (용정축구공원, "yohng-juhng chook-goo gohng-wuhn"). The games are free, and you can find the schedule for their games on the Cheongju Jijki website, although it is all in Korean.
KB Stars- Women's Basketball
Cheongju's local women's basketball team! They play their home games in the big stadium near downtown-- 청주체육관 ("Cheongju chay-yook-gwahn"). The season runs from October to March. Check the KB Stars official site (in Korean) or look at the KB Stars info in English.