Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Invests 7.5 Billion Won in Tailored Sports Programs for Seniors

Overcoming the Limitations of the "Voucher" Program That Failed to Resonate in the Field
Switching to Directly Planned Local Government Initiatives
Validating Policy Effectiveness Through Data on Participants' Physical Improvement

Eoseong County Senior Citizens Park Golf Class

The government will allocate 7.5 billion won in state funds this year to increase participation in sports activities among the elderly aged 65 and older.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on March 11 that it has conducted an open call for the "2026 Senior Sports Class Program Support Project" targeting local governments nationwide, selecting 54 projects from underrepresented cities and provinces. Until 2028, the central and local governments will share the funding equally (with a 30:70 ratio for Seoul), providing sports classes tailored to the specific characteristics and needs of each region.

The Ministry has also responded to criticism that last year’s supplementary budget program, the "Senior Sports Voucher," had little impact on the ground due to a lack of available venues and complicated issuance procedures. As a result, local governments will now design and offer programs that match high local demand.

Outstanding models include Busan's "Sports Big Challenge," which rewards participants for entering related competitions after taking classes, and Hongcheon’s "Healthy Hundred Integrated Sports," which brings together vulnerable groups and non-disabled individuals. Namwon and Uiseong were also recognized for their thorough preliminary research and long-term plans to transition into sports clubs.

Senior Table Tennis Class in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will implement a data verification system to demonstrate the effectiveness of these policies. Seniors participating in the program will be required to visit the National Physical Fitness Certification Center before and after classes to provide quantifiable evidence of health improvements.

Kim Daehyun, the Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "We will lower the entry barriers so that seniors can enjoy exercise near their homes without financial burden." He emphasized, "We will pursue substantive policies based on objective data on changes in physical fitness." He added, "In response to the high demand in the field, we plan to conduct an additional open call for local governments early next month."

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