Culture ministry to raise youth sports budget over 50%

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has increased its budget for children's and teenagers' sports activities by more than 50 percent as it moves to strengthen support for youth athletics.

The ministry said Wednesday that its 2027 budget proposal for youth sports support programs was set at 183.9 billion won ($137 million), up 64.1 billion won, or 53.5 percent, from this year's 119.8 billion won.

In particular, the budget for general youth sports programs -- excluding those for underprivileged and disabled groups -- rose nearly fourfold, or 318.6 percent, from a year earlier.

"Childhood and adolescence are key life stages for forming lifelong exercise habits, but the physical activity levels of South Korean children and teenagers fall significantly short of other age groups and recommended standards, so it was necessary to expand support for sports participation to lay the groundwork for healthy growth," the ministry said.

Under the 2027 budget proposal, the ministry plans to significantly expand support for general youth sports activities, including early childhood and sport-specific programs. It will also identify a wider range of underprivileged groups to provide sports activity vouchers, and expand support for sports activities among youth with disabilities through programs and vouchers.