Sports ministry budget eyes structural reforms in wake of Paris Olympics drama

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been assigned a budget of 7.12 trillion won ($5.33 billion) for next year, marking a 2.4 percent increase of 166.9 billion won from the year prior.

Culture minister Yu In-chon answering questions during the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee meeting at Yeouido, western Seoul on Aug. 26. [NEWS 1]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been assigned a budget of 7.12 trillion won ($5.33 billion) for next year, marking a 2.4 percent increase of 166.9 billion won from the year prior.

This is the second time the ministry’s budget has surpassed 7 trillion won, the first time being in 2022. It's about 1.03 percent of the Yoon Suk Yeol administration's total budget, which has been set at 677.4 trillion won for 2025.

The biggest change will take place in the sports division, which will receive the largest increase, signaling the Culture Ministry's aim to reform the country's sports structure in the wake of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The sports sector will get 1.67 trillion won, a 3.6 percent rise of 58.7 billion won, allocated to its budget next year, with a major reallocation of 41.6 billion won in funding redirected from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) to regional governments.

The amount makes up around 10 percent of the KSOC's annual budget of 420 billion won. However, this amount will go directly to regional governments to strengthen recreational programs for local residents.

The ministry's decision comes amid a series of disputes between the ministry and the KSOC, starting in November last year when Culture Minister Yu In-chon initially rejected the KSOC's plans to create a liaison office in Lausanne, Switzerland, where the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is located.

The Culture Ministry cited inefficiency as its reason for the decision, stating that if any liaising was needed, a business trip to the IOC headquarters would be sufficient. "No other country has established such an office in Lausanne," a Culture Ministry official said at the time.

The ministry eventually approved the liaison office, but controversy struck the KSOC again. The organization came under fire for allegedly mistreating badminton player An Se-young during the Paris Olympics, causing its public image to rapidly deteriorate.

"The need for reforming outdated practices in the sports community has been raised in light of the Paris Olympics," said the Culture Ministry. "Starting with the change in the allocation method of budgets related to recreational sports, we will continue to reform the system for effective sports policies."

The ministry will also begin supporting the fostering of Team Korea by increasing the number of future athletes. It will also help retired athletes get new jobs or find positions overseas as instructors, setting aside a budget of 5 billion won.

The arts and culture division will get a 1.7 percent increase from the previous year to 2.4 trillion won, with a focus on creating landmarks of K-culture across the country and helping nurture younger Korean artists through education and training programs.

The budget for content has risen by 1.5 percent to 1.29 trillion won, and will focus on promoting Korean content to the global market. The ministry will create a “Global League Fund,” which will be used to attract foreign investments in the Korean content industry.

The tourism sector will also get a 2.4 percent increase to 1.34 trillion won, with the focus of attracting more inbound tourists to the local market with foreigner-friendly festivals and tourist programs.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]