Youth Sports Budget Set at 183.9 Billion Won; Sports Classes to Be Extended to Families with Multiple Children

[Financial News] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has earmarked 183.9 billion won in next year’s budget proposal to support sports activities for children and adolescents. The government plans to expand eligibility for sports class vouchers and increase the number of sport-specific programs and sports classes for young children.
According to the MCST on the 9th, the government’s 2027 budget proposal for supporting sports activities for children and adolescents is 64.1 billion won, or 53.5%, higher than this year’s initial budget of 119.8 billion won. Last year, the participation rate in sports among teenagers was 43.2%, 19.7 percentage points lower than the rate for the overall population, at 62.9%.
The sports class voucher, which provides 105,000 won per month toward sports class fees, will be expanded beyond existing low-income beneficiaries to include families with three or more children, North Korean defectors, and children and adolescents in areas experiencing population decline. The related budget will increase from 86.9 billion won to 106.9 billion won.
In areas with limited access to sports facilities, including remote island and mountain regions, sports class trial programs will also be offered. KSPO and local governments will provide details on eligibility and application procedures at a later date.
Sports programs for children and adolescents run by sport-specific organizations will expand from 10 to 36. The budget will rise from 3.8 billion won to 37 billion won, and customized programs will be distributed through sports clubs and other channels.
The 33.2 billion won increase for sport-specific programs accounts for more than half of the total budget increase. The funding structure allocates resources not only to subsidize class fees but also to expand the range of programs available for children and adolescents to choose from.
In areas experiencing population decline, the government will establish new “child-friendly sports classes” with a budget of 2 billion won. Community sports instructors and sports coaches will visit kindergartens, daycare centers, and other facilities to provide classes tailored to young children.
The total number of beneficiaries of disability sports class vouchers, including children and adolescents, will increase from 26,000 to 32,000. The budget will also rise from 24.6 billion won to 29.9 billion won.
The government has allocated 4.1 billion won next year for customized sports programs for children and adolescents with disabilities, which began with this year’s supplementary budget. It plans to provide 800 programs tailored to disability type and age at schools, Bandabi Sports Centers, welfare facilities, and other locations.

[email protected] In-seo Jang Reporter