Only One in Four Adults Engages in Moderate or Higher Intensity Physical Activity: "More Movement Needed for Better Health"

KDCA Releases In-Depth Analysis Based on Community Health Survey
Physical Inactivity Rate Among Korean Adults Twice the Global Average

Only one in four adults in South Korea engages in moderate or higher intensity physical activity. In contrast, the rate of physical inactivity among South Korean adults is nearly twice as high as the global average.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) on July 10, the 'rate of engaging in moderate or higher intensity physical activity' among South Korean adults last year was 26.6%, returning to pre-COVID-19 levels.

The rate of engaging in moderate or higher intensity physical activity refers to the proportion of adults who either perform vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes per day, three or more days a week, or moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day, five or more days a week. This includes not only exercise but also physical activity from occupational tasks, excluding walking. Vigorous physical activities include running (jogging), hiking, cycling, swimming, soccer, basketball, jumping rope, squash, singles tennis, and carrying heavy objects, all of which are much more physically demanding and cause heavy breathing compared to usual. Moderate physical activities, which are somewhat physically demanding and cause slightly increased breathing, include slow swimming, doubles tennis, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, and carrying light objects.

The rate of engaging in moderate or higher intensity physical activity among South Korean adults rose slightly from 22.3% in 2017 to 24.7% in 2019, but dropped sharply to 19.8% in 2020 due to the pandemic. In 2021, it reached a record low of 19.7% since statistics have been compiled, but began to rise again after daily life started to return to normal in 2022. This survey is based on a detailed analysis of data from the 'Community Health Survey', which the KDCA conducts annually in cooperation with 17 metropolitan governments, 258 public health centers, and 33 local universities.

However, as of 2022, the physical inactivity rate among South Korean adults (the proportion of adults who did not engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week) was 58.1%, which is 1.9 times higher than the global average of 31.3% as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Looking at regional trends over the past four years since 2021, when the rate of engaging in moderate or higher intensity physical activity hit its lowest point, 12 out of 17 metropolitan governments have shown a steady recovery. Sejong saw the largest increase, rising from 17.5% in 2021 to 29.1% in 2024, an 11.6 percentage point increase. Ulsan (18.1%→29.2%) and North Chungcheong (19.7%→29.8%) followed.

Additionally, rural areas showed higher rates of moderate or higher intensity physical activity compared to urban areas. This is attributed to a combination of factors, including a living environment centered on cars and public transportation, a high proportion of sedentary jobs such as office work, and a lack of time for exercise. Conversely, in agricultural and fishing regions, the labor-intensive occupational structure, such as jobs in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, is believed to contribute to the higher rates of physical activity.

By gender, the rate of engaging in moderate or higher intensity physical activity was 30.2% for men and 19.5% for women, a difference of 10.7 percentage points. By age, those in their 20s had the highest rate at 32.3%, while those aged 70 and over had the lowest at 13.8%. The decline in physical activity by age was particularly pronounced among men: 42.2% of men in their 20s engaged in moderate or higher intensity physical activity, the highest rate, while only 18.3% of men aged 70 and over did so, the lowest rate. In contrast, among women, there was no clear trend of decreasing participation in moderate or higher intensity physical activity with age. In fact, women in their 40s (22.9%) and 50s (21.8%) showed higher rates of participation, indicating that middle-aged women were more active.

In addition, adults who had never been diagnosed with hypertension or diabetes had a participation rate of 26.8%, which was 7.2 percentage points higher than those with such diagnoses (19.6%). Adults without depressive symptoms had a participation rate of 25.1%, which was 7.8 percentage points higher than those with depressive symptoms (17.3%).

The KDCA emphasized that, for the prevention of chronic diseases as well as the promotion of mental health, it is important to regularly engage not only in light daily movements but also in moderate or higher intensity physical activities that cause breathlessness and sweating. Activities such as hiking, running, and cycling are particularly effective in preventing and improving major chronic diseases, and are also known to contribute to improved mental health by reducing depression, relieving stress, and alleviating anxiety disorders.

Ji Youngmi, Commissioner of the KDCA, stated, "Moderate or higher intensity physical activity is an essential factor not only for disease prevention but also for healthy aging and improved quality of life. Neglecting it can have negative health effects, such as increased risk of chronic diseases and deterioration of mental health. It is important to consistently practice small movements in daily life, starting from light exercise to activities that make you short of breath."