Nine New National Physical Fitness Certification Centers Selected, Expanding Nationwide to 96 Locations

Annual Support of 120 Million Won Provided for Operational and Personnel Expenses

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on March 5, 2026, that it has newly selected nine National Physical Fitness Certification Centers for 2026 in cooperation with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.

The Ministry explained that the final sites were chosen after a comprehensive evaluation of space (facilities) availability, accessibility, operational conditions, and plans to boost utilization. With this selection, the total number of National Physical Fitness Certification Centers nationwide will increase to 96. The selected centers will receive annual support totaling 120 million won per center, including operational and personnel expenses, as well as fitness measurement equipment.

Citizens are measuring their physical fitness at the National Fitness Certification Center. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The National Physical Fitness Certification Center is a core component of the “National Physical Fitness 100” project, which measures individual and life-cycle physical fitness levels based on the health standards necessary for maintaining wellness and preventing disease, and provides customized exercise prescriptions and fitness improvement programs. The number of people undergoing fitness measurement is expected to rise from 330,000 in 2024 to 380,000 in 2025, while participation in fitness improvement classes will grow from 1,390,000 in 2024 to 2,280,000 in 2025, resulting in a 54.5% year-on-year increase in total users.

According to research by the Korea Institute of Sport Science, participants in the National Physical Fitness 100 project save approximately 400,000 won per person in annual medical expenses compared to non-participants. Citizens who wish to use the National Physical Fitness Certification Center can make a reservation through the National Physical Fitness 100 website or by phone.

To encourage greater participation from local governments, the Ministry plans to relax area requirements for fitness measurement spaces and will prioritize the distribution of advanced fitness measurement equipment to the newly designated centers this year.

Kim Daehyun, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, “We will continue to strengthen the foundation for fitness measurement so that everyone in the country can receive scientific exercise prescription services nearby. The Ministry will realize 'sports for all' through tailored exercise practices according to fitness levels, and by 2030, we will expand the number of National Physical Fitness Certification Centers to 150.”

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