Sports Week Begins on the 27th... Over 120 Community Sports Events Nationwide

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on April 24 that it will operate the "2026 Sports Week" from April 27 to May 3, in cooperation with government ministries, local governments, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the Korea Paralympic Committee, and other related organizations. Designated by Article 27 of the Basic Sports Act, Sports Week is held every year during the last week of April to promote nationwide participation in sports and enhance the social value of sports.

This year's Sports Week will kick off on April 26 with the "2026 Sweaty Spring Sports Festival" at Olympic Park in Seoul. The opening event will feature generational programs ranging from the "Cheering Stick Run" for teenagers to "Laughter Gymnastics" for people in their seventies, so that everyone can experience and enjoy sports first-hand. In addition, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the Korea Paralympic Committee, and the Taekwondo Promotion Foundation will collaborate to offer beginner and experiential classes for various sports, as well as operate promotional booths for public sports services.

During Sports Week, a variety of participatory events and benefits will be provided to encourage sports activities among the public. The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation will offer special points (3,000 won) for participating in fitness assessments through the "Healthy Money" participation program, and will host an online marathon on April 29 in collaboration with a private running app to encourage voluntary physical activity. From April 13 to May 3, the "Show Your Sports" (Dangseubo) campaign will be held, in which 1,000 won will be donated per participation when people share their daily sports activities, supporting underprivileged groups. Last year, the Dangseubo campaign raised approximately 30 million won in donations.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee is promoting the "Everyone Enjoys Sports 7330" campaign, which encourages people to exercise for 30 minutes a day at least three times a week, to spread a culture of regular exercise in daily life. The committee will also use online participatory events to promote the significance and main events of Sports Week.

Over 120 community sports events will be held nationwide so that anyone can easily access sports, including the "2026 National Community Sports Festival" (April 23-26, Gyeongnam region). Major events include a two-day, one-night camp with an archery gold medalist for children and teenagers at the Jinju Sports Value Center in Gyeongnam (April 25-26), and the "Precious Sports Day" for 13 elementary schools each with fewer than 100 students, expanding opportunities for inclusive sports participation. In Jeollanam-do, the "21st Boseong Green Tea Marathon" (May 3) will take place on a unique course through green tea fields, an event that receives a great response every year. In Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, the "16th Yulgokdae National Youth Soccer Tournament" (May 2-4) will host young soccer hopefuls. In Jeju Special Self-Governing Province, the "2026 Peace Island Jeju International Marathon" (April 26) will be held against the background of Jeju’s natural scenery, a symbol of peace. In Chungcheongbuk-do, the "17th Cheongpunggi National Judo Tournament" (April 27-May 2) will be held to broaden the base of judo in Korea.

Further details about Sports Week events can be found on the "2026 Sports Week Official Website."

Kim Daehyun, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated, "Community sports are a representative form of preventive investment that helps prevent chronic diseases and reduce medical expenses, and they also play a crucial role as a social safety net by alleviating social issues such as isolation and depression." He added, "In particular, we will strengthen policy support to create an environment where all generations, including seniors, children, and teenagers, can enjoy sports in their daily lives."

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