Jeju Province seeks relocation of Korea Racing Authority headquarters

Jeju Province is actively campaigning to relocate the headquarters of the Korea Racing Authority (KRA) to the island, citing Jeju's status as the nation's primary hub for the horse industry. Currently, Jeju accounts for 54.7% of the country's horse population and produces 91.5% of all domestic racehorses.

Proponents argue that moving the KRA headquarters would allow for a more integrated approach to horse production, breeding, research, and professional training. The island already hosts key facilities such as the Jeju Racecourse and Jeju Ranch, as well as academic institutions like Jeju National University and Jeju Halla University, which provide specialized veterinary and equine studies.

Economic projections suggest that the relocation could generate approximately 65.1 billion won in production inducement and create around 505 jobs. By aligning policy-making and research functions with the actual site of production, Jeju aims to enhance the national competitiveness of the equine industry through advanced biotechnology and AI-driven management technologies.