Gyeonggi-do Expands 'Athlete Opportunity Income' Eligibility and Scope... Applications Open from July 1

Starting in July, Gyeonggi-do will begin accepting applications for the expanded 'Athlete Opportunity Income' program by city and county.

The Athlete Opportunity Income is one of the key initiatives of Gyeonggi-do Governor Kim Dongyeon, providing fair compensation for the social value created by athletes.

Eligible applicants are current athletes, coaches, referees, athlete managers, and sports administration workers aged 19 or older, residing in 24 cities and counties within the province, excluding Seongnam, Goyang, Yongin, Bucheon, Ansan, and Yeoju. Applicants must also have a recognized individual income at or below 120% of the median income.

Applications can be submitted through Gyeonggi Minwon 24 (gg24.gg.go.kr) or via mobile. For in-person applications, individuals may visit the sports department of their local city or county office, or their Eup, Myeon, or Dong administrative welfare center.

Gyeonggi-do Athlete Opportunity Income Poster

Gyeonggi-do has expanded the range of eligible recipients this year, adding university lecturers, various sports class instructors, and talent donors from general sports clubs to the existing categories of current athletes, coaches, referees, and athlete managers. Administrative workers who are former athletes and work at sports associations, sports organizations, or registered and designated sports clubs are also eligible to apply.

The detailed criteria have also been eased. For professional athletes, participation in at least one provincial-level competition is now sufficient. For sports instructors in recreational sports, winning an award at a provincial-level competition is required. For referees, participating in at least one provincial-level competition per year now meets the requirement.

Choi Heungrak, Director of Sports Promotion at Gyeonggi-do, said, "With the expansion of the program this year, we hope that more athletes will benefit," and added, "We especially encourage many beneficiaries to participate in the Athlete Opportunity Income sports classes, which are being launched this year to further promote the social value of sports."