Korea Pickleball Association partners with Kwangdong Pharmaceutical for beverage sponsorship

The Korea Pickleball Association (KPA) announced a significant sponsorship deal with Kwangdong Pharmaceutical, securing the company as its official beverage provider. The agreement, effective from August 2026 through December 2027, will see Kwangdong's 'Vita500 Ion Kick' supplied to athletes and staff at all KPA-sanctioned national tournaments and events.

This partnership aims to support the growth of pickleball in South Korea, both as a recreational activity and a competitive sport. The KPA highlighted that the sponsorship will contribute to enhancing player performance and ensuring the smooth operation of tournaments.

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This sponsorship agreement supports the improvement of athletes' performance and the safe operation of competitions, contributing to the development of the rapidly growing domestic pickleball culture.

Kwangdong Pharmaceutical is not only a beverage sponsor but also the title sponsor for the upcoming '2026 Kwangdong Vita500 Ion Kick KPA President's Cup in Oak Valley.' This event is scheduled to take place from August 27 to 30 at the Oak Valley Resort Pickleball Park in Wonju, Gangwon Province. The tournament is recognized as a major pickleball festival, attracting high-level amateur and professional players from across the country.

The KPA expressed its commitment to developing pickleball into a leading sports content in Korea, moving beyond its status as a popular lifestyle sport. The association plans to implement various initiatives to achieve this goal, leveraging the support from this new sponsorship.

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We plan to pursue various projects to help pickleball grow beyond a lifestyle sport into representative sports content in Korea.