Key Details of the Sports Policy Forum
The 'Media National Policy Advisory Group Sports Forum' is set to take place at the National Assembly on the 13th. The event, which will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the auditorium on the first basement floor of the National Assembly Library in Yeouido, Seoul, is organized by the 'Media's National Policy Advisory Group' sports division and hosted by the 'National Assembly Good Policy Forum' led by Rep. Jeon Hyun-hee of the Democratic Party of Korea.
This forum aims to discuss and advance key aspects of the Lee Jae-myung administration’s sports policy. Experts will present their insights and engage in discussions on several critical topics. These include the supplementation and improvement of enforcement ordinances for the sports system and related laws, the enhancement of systems that create an environment for sustainable sports organizations, and the preparation of implementation plans for sports cities and sports industry regional bases under the Sports Industry Promotion Act.
Expert Presentations and Discussions
Several notable experts are scheduled to present during the forum. Professor Hannam-hee from Korea University's Department of International Sports Studies will address the "policy advancement plan for the realization of good sports." Kim Se-hoon, head of the strategic planning department of the Korea Sports Association, will present the "system improvement plan for the creation of an environment for sustainable sports organizations." Additionally, Kim Sang-hoon, head of the sports industry department at the Korea Sports Science Institute, will discuss "Future Environmental Change and Policy Direction for the Sports Industry." Another presentation will be given by Kim Se-hoon, chair professor of Dankook University, who previously served as the first vice minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
Focus on Institutional Innovation in Sports
The Korean Sports Association has emphasized the importance of improving laws and systems for institutional innovation in the sports sector. During the forum, they will present three major legislative tasks. These include the improvement of the system to raise donations to sports organizations, the revision of the National Sports Promotion Act related to official sponsors, and the promotion of local sports using donations for love for hometowns.
The proposal aims to revise the current system so that sports organizations can legally recruit and utilize private donations. It also calls for the establishment of a transparent donation operation system. Currently, while Korea's annual donation amounts to approximately KRW 16 trillion, only a small portion flows into the sports sector. Given the public interest in sports—such as promoting public health, responding to an aging society, and achieving social integration—it is argued that financial diversification through private donations is essential.
Revising the National Sports Promotion Act
Another key focus of the forum is the revision of the National Sports Promotion Act to allow private contracts for goods and services provided by sponsors according to the purpose of supporting professional sports and international exchanges. Under the current system, it is challenging to attract sponsors because the supply of goods must be carried out as a competitive bid separately from the selection of sponsors. This has led to complaints, including quality degradation issues observed at the Harbin Winter Asian Games in February. The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) will emphasize the need to improve the system, taking into account the specificity of the National Olympic Committee (NOC), maintaining the national team's performance, and guaranteeing the marketing rights of sponsors.
Utilizing Donations for Local Sports
The forum will also propose amendments to related laws to enable donations from hometown love to be used for local sports. This initiative aims to strengthen the local sports base by using donations for local residents' sports activities and establishing a legal basis for consultation with local sports associations.
Commitment to Sports Reform
Since Yoo Seung Min's inauguration, the KOC has been actively pursuing 'sports reform innovation tasks.' These include preventing the privatization of sports organizations, reforming the election system for heads of sports organizations, improving vulnerable areas of corruption, legalizing member organizations, securing financial resources for local sports subsidies, and enhancing the system for improving the athletic environment of athletes and leaders.
Expectations for the Forum
Ahead of the Sports Forum, Chairman of the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee Yoo Seung Min expressed his expectations. He stated, "We expect this forum to lay the legislative foundation for the future of Korean sports, to break down old practices, and establish a flexible and creative organizational culture." He also emphasized the need for the Korean Sports Council to establish a solid institutional foundation to guarantee the people's right to sports and to strengthen the publicity and transparency of sports.
Representative Jeon Hyun-hee, who hosted the forum, highlighted the growing importance of sports in modern life. She said, "These days, when life expectancy is gradually rising, healthy 100 years old is not a dream, but everyone's wish." She added, "We expect that this forum will examine various sports fields and have many discussions on systems and implementation plans."