Renovating Aging Sports Facilities... Ministry Expands Public Sports Facility Renovation Budget by 2.7 Times

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to increase next year's budget for the public sports facility renovation support project to a level 2.7 times higher than this year. The aim is to create an environment where everyone in Korea can enjoy sports safely and comfortably close to where they live.

According to the ministry on September 7, the proposed budget for next year's public sports facility renovation support project has been set at 255.8 billion won, an increase of 160.5 billion won (168.4%) over this year's 95.3 billion won.

The Ministry is focusing on quickly improving the usability of the budget by upgrading existing facilities already used by the public to be safer and more convenient, rather than building new sports venues. Of the 10,753 public sports facilities nationwide (excluding simplified sports facilities), about 70% are over 10 years old, and the number of renovation requests has risen from 381 in 2023 to 484 last year. This reflects growing demand for repairs and upgrades.

Futsal Stadium. Photo by Yonhap News

The public sports facility renovation support project for next year will be implemented under three main pillars: strengthening safety, responding to climate change, and improving user convenience and facility utilization.

First, the government subsidy rate for sports facilities requiring urgent renovation will be increased from the current 50% to 70%. This is to ease the financial burden on local governments facing budget constraints and to expedite the renovation of facilities in urgent need of safety upgrades. The ministry will also support installing temperature-reducing devices, such as sprinklers, in artificial turf football fields and other sports venues vulnerable to heat waves.

Improvements will also be made to outdoor sports facilities that have been increasingly affected by frequent heat waves and heavy rainfall due to climate change. Roof structures will be installed at tennis courts, basketball courts, and futsal pitches, transforming them into all-weather sports spaces that can be used regardless of the season or weather conditions.

Facility improvements for spectators visiting sports venues will also be supported. Reflecting the era of 12 million professional baseball spectators and 3 million professional football spectators per year, the ministry will enhance stadium seating, restrooms, and other amenities, and expand women’s restrooms and family-friendly spaces. Support will also be provided for replacing outdated broadcast equipment.

Projects to boost the utilization of World Cup stadiums across the country are also in progress. By improving facility performance and user environments, the government aims to transform these venues from being used only for football matches into local, multi-purpose cultural and sports complexes capable of hosting community sports, elite sporting events, and large-scale performances.

The public sports facility renovation support project for 2027 will be open for public applications from this month to next month. After being reviewed by a selection committee, the final list of supported facilities will be determined around December.

Minister Choi Hwi-young of the Ministry commented, "We have boldly expanded investments in public sports facilities with the perspective that public health is directly linked to national competitiveness. The government will strengthen its role so that all citizens can protect their health through exercise in a safe and pleasant environment, and we will move quickly on related projects so that the public can truly feel the changes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.