Difficulties in Career Transition for Retired Athletes
Career Support Center Usage Rate Remains in the 20% Range
Assemblyman Jo Gyewon: "National Support Is Needed"
It has been found that the average retirement age for athletes in South Korea is in their early twenties. After retirement, 4 out of 10 are effectively unable to find a job.
According to data submitted by Assemblyman Jo Gyewon of the Democratic Party of Korea, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee (Yeosu-eul, South Jeolla Province), the average retirement age for athletes in South Korea is 23.6 years old.
According to the Korea Sports Association’s “Post-Retirement Career Status” report, as of last year, there were 7,521 former athletes. Of these, only 38.4% transitioned to sports-related fields after retirement, which is less than half. The proportion of those who remained unemployed reached 38.19%, according to Assemblyman Jo’s office.
It was also revealed that the support system for athletes’ post-retirement career paths has not functioned properly.
In 2024, the number of career counseling sessions at Career Support Centers was 4,015, but the actual usage rate of these centers was only 25.21%, according to a survey. The most common reason for not using the centers was “not knowing how to participate,” accounting for 64.41%.
Assemblyman Jo stated, “Athletes face retirement at an early age, but institutional support for life after retirement remains at a rudimentary level. The reality that 4 out of 10 young people who end their athletic careers at an average age of 23 remain unemployed is not an individual issue, but a structural problem that society has neglected.”
He added, “There should have been a review to determine whether the issue is a lack of promotion for Career Support Centers, and whether the customized programs truly reflect the interests of retired athletes. There is a need to further strengthen education and employment linkage systems that retired athletes can actively participate in and benefit from.”
Assemblyman Jo also urged the urgent introduction of welfare systems for female athletes, noting that retired female athletes face dual challenges of childbirth and childcare issues, as well as a culture of gender discrimination in the sports sector when seeking re-employment. In fact, even after finding employment, 74.1% of men and 85.13% of women earn less than 3 million won per month, highlighting the issue of the gender wage gap.
He further explained that the discriminatory environment faced by female athletes leads to a glass ceiling that hinders the growth of female talent.
Assemblyman Jo emphasized, “Although the 2024 Paris Olympics was the first in history with a 50:50 gender ratio among participating athletes, giving the impression that a culture of gender equality is spreading in sports, the proportion of female executives at the Korea Sports Association has not exceeded 30% for five consecutive years. The glass ceiling in the sports sector still exists. There is a need for separate support programs for female athletes to prevent career interruptions and assist with re-employment.”
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