Yoon: "Develop Sports Industry as a National Growth Engine"

President Yoon Visits Athletes' Village to Encourage National Team Ahead of Asian Games Participation

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Suk-yeol announced on the 14th that "the sports industry will be intensively fostered as a national growth engine." Guaranteeing the people's right to sports and establishing a professional sports system are core sports policies of the Yoon administration.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon attended the '2023 Republic of Korea Sports Vision Report Meeting' held at the National Athletes' Village in Jincheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, stating, "We will expand support for community sports so that all citizens can enjoy sports, while also striving to create an environment for professional sports."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is singing "Hand in Hand" together with key guests at the 2023 Korea Sports Vision Report held on the 14th at the Jincheon Athlete Village in Chungbuk.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

That day, President Yoon received a vision report from sports officials and met with athletes and coaches training ahead of the Hangzhou Asian Games scheduled for the end of September this year. In particular, he visited the archery training center to encourage athletes and coaches who have maintained world-class levels in the Olympics and Asian Games for several decades. Kim Seong-hoon, the head coach of the national archery team, introduced the archery athletes and team to President Yoon, and with the help of Kim Woo-jin and Choi Mi-sun, the captains of the national archery team, he also tried his hand at archery.

He also visited the weight training center. President Yoon listened to explanations about a facility that analyzes and displays individual exercise volume based on artificial intelligence and encouraged athletes in training. Visiting the physical therapy room and advanced science equipment zone in the medical center, President Yoon urged that full support be provided so that injured athletes can recover quickly and maintain optimal performance.

President Yoon's interest in supporting the sports community has been consistent. Even during his presidential candidate period, he invited sports figures to hear various opinions, and he personally attended the National Sports Festival held last October, delivering a message that "all citizens will be guaranteed the freedom to have fair opportunities and participate in sports activities."

President Yoon promised that the government will carefully examine and support citizens' sports activities. He stated, "The government will provide detailed support for sports activities throughout the life cycle and expand local sports infrastructure," and announced plans to expand support for sports activities for vulnerable groups, increase customized sports facilities and programs for people with disabilities, and revitalize school sports.

He also emphasized the government's commitment to supporting professional sports. President Yoon directly mentioned improving treatment for athletes and coaches, scientific training using cutting-edge technology, sportspeople's mutual aid and scholarship projects, and career and startup support, pledging to focus on nurturing professional athletes. On the same day, he also conveyed plans to the heads of provincial sports councils to strengthen organizational operations and expand resources to secure the self-sustainability of local sports councils. President Yoon said, "We will support all our citizens to enjoy the basic right to sports equally and without discrimination anytime and anywhere."

Meanwhile, the Yoon administration's sports policy centers on "guaranteeing the people's right to freely enjoy sports" and "establishing a healthy professional sports system." Last month, during a briefing from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, President Yoon received related reports and urged the establishment of a foundation that allows all citizens to equally enjoy cultural, artistic, and sports activities anywhere without exclusion.