운동하는 여성•노인 늘었다…여성 생활체육 참여율, 남성 추월
Data by the nation's sports ministry suggests a growing number of women and elderly are invested in trying to stay fit.
The trend reflects increased number of exercise programs for them as well as greater awareness of the benefits of sporting activities.
Won Jung-hwan has the full story.
A recent report shows that more South Korean women and senior citizens are participating in sports and exercise than before.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday,… 62-point-2 percent of Koreans did at least one 30-minute period of sports or exercise a week in 2018,… up 3 percentage points from the previous year.
The data also shows a general rising trend with participation up 16-point-7 percentage points since 2013.
And there was a particularly noticeable rise in the number of women and senior citizens regularly doing sports or exercise.
The number of women doing at least one 30-minute period of exercise a week rose to 62-point-8 percent, compared with 61-point-6 percent for men in 2018.
This is the first time that women have surpassed men in terms of participation in physical activities.
Over-70s also raised their participation rate from 54-point-6 percent to nearly 60-percent.
However,… teenagers' participation dropped from 60-point-4 percent to 57-point-2 percent,… raising concerns over the health of Korea's youth.
A ministry official said that the latest trend of increased sports and exercise by women and seniors has been caused by rising health awareness among those groups,… and increased daily sports programs for them.
Won Jung-hwan, Arirang News.
