Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member Kim Gilyong Points Out 'Wide Discrepancies' in School Sports Facility Usage Fees

Kim Gil-yong, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jun-kyung] The Jeonnam Provincial Council announced on the 19th that Assemblyman Kim Gil-yong (Gwangyang 3, Democratic Party of Korea) insisted through the 347th extraordinary session provincial government inquiry on the 16th, “The school facility opening and usage fee collection system, which varies greatly by school and sports category, must be immediately improved so that community sports club members and residents can use the facilities fairly.”

According to the data submitted by Assemblyman Kim Gil-yong, an analysis of the ‘Permission details for using gymnasiums and playgrounds of elementary, middle, and high schools’ showed that when facilities were used for more than 4 hours, the fee collected at Suncheon A High School was 20,000 KRW per day applying an 80% discount rate, whereas Goheung A Elementary School charged 200,000 KRW (including additional costs), showing a tenfold difference.

There was also a large difference in facility usage fees for the same sports category by school. In the case of soccer, Shinan A High School charged 19,924 KRW per day for playground use, while Haenam A Middle School charged 120,000 KRW, showing up to a sixfold difference.

Additionally, at Yeosu A Elementary School, the daily gymnasium usage fee was 4,369 KRW for the volleyball club but 50,000 KRW for the badminton club, showing up to a twelvefold difference in fees collected by sport category within the same school.

The opening and fee collection for school facilities in the province follow the ‘Jeollanam-do Education and Academic Facility Usage Ordinance’ and the ‘Jeollanam-do School Facility Opening and Usage Regulations,’ but according to delegated duties, each school principal has the authority to decide on opening, fees, and additional cost collection.

Assemblyman Kim Gil-yong pointed out, “Schools have well-equipped facilities such as playgrounds and gymnasiums, serving as very important spaces to promote residents’ health and foster community harmony, but conflicts between schools and local residents persist due to the inconsistent facility usage fees.”

He continued, “Community sports club members use sports facilities for extended periods annually, but the usage fees vary by tens of times depending on the school principal, which suppresses the activities of sports clubs and results in weakening the capabilities of community sports in Jeonnam.”

Furthermore, he proposed “to minimally restrict the exercise of decision-making authority by school principals through the revision of the ‘Education and Academic Ordinance’ and for the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education to prepare a joint budget to support schools at all levels, thereby reducing the burden of sports facility usage fees on residents and the administrative burden on school principals.”

In response, Superintendent Jang Seok-woong said, “We will strive to ensure that the opening of school sports facilities and the collection of usage fees are properly executed according to the ordinance.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.