From Private to Public Sports Facilities, Calls for "Resumption of Operations and Survival Assurance" Grow Loud

On the afternoon of the 8th, when a cold wave advisory was issued, irregular workers at the Nam-gu Multipurpose Gymnasium in front of Nam-gu Office in Gwangju held a swimsuit protest, appealing for support measures due to livelihood difficulties caused by the impact of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] As business owners in related fields continue to complain of damages due to the prohibition of gatherings at sports facilities following the strengthening of social distancing measures, there are calls to resume operations of public sports facilities as well as private ones.

Recently, a petition requesting the reopening of public sports facilities was posted on the Blue House National Petition Board, gaining the support of about 2,000 people as of the 10th. The petitioner argued, "There are about 50,000 public sports facilities nationwide, and if an average of 100 people use each, the public welfare of 5 million citizens is being seriously infringed every day." They also questioned, "Indoor Taekwondo dojangs and boxing gyms are open, but outdoor soccer fields, tennis courts, and badminton courts are closed. Which side poses a higher risk of infection?"

The government, citing the need to resolve care gaps, has allowed lessons with up to nine students for children and students below the third grade of high school at all indoor sports facilities since the 8th. After extending the strengthened social distancing from the 4th to the 17th of this month, related ministries are discussing measures to allow operations of indoor sports facilities by supplementing quarantine guidelines. This is a response to concerns about fairness regarding the prohibition of gatherings at indoor sports facilities such as gyms, screen golf centers, and billiard halls, and complaints about livelihood difficulties due to prolonged business suspension.

Amid ongoing protests mainly from private sports facilities, workers at public sports facilities have also voiced their hardships caused by the prolonged prohibition of gatherings. Recently, non-regular workers at the Gwangju Nam-gu Multipurpose Sports Center held a press conference in front of the Gwangju Nam-gu Office, demanding support measures while expressing livelihood difficulties due to the impact of COVID-19.

Im Oh-kyung, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, pointed out, "Sports workers who have been operating indoor and outdoor public sports facilities through leasing and rental arrangements cannot operate because they cannot rent the facilities despite the easing of the indoor sports facility gathering ban." She added, "About 50,000 workers related to indoor and outdoor public sports facilities in the metropolitan area are suffering from financial hardship."

Im also stated, "We need to actively discuss easing measures for indoor and outdoor public sports facilities under strict quarantine rules to ensure public safety." She emphasized, "In some regions outside the metropolitan area, it is necessary to discuss allowing local governments to operate flexibly considering quarantine management situations and the characteristics of each facility."

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