*This content was translated by AI.
Kim Dae-hyun, the second vice minister of culture, sports and tourism, met with officials from professional sports organizations in Seoul on the 21st to discuss major pending issues in the professional sports industry and mid- to long-term development plans, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The meeting was attended by officials from major professional sports organizations, including Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) President Hu Jie-yeon, WKBL President Shin Sang-hoon, K League Vice President Han Woong-soo, KBL Secretary-General Shin Hae-yong, Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) Secretary-General Shin Moo-chul, Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Secretary-General Lee Joon-woo, and KLPGA Senior Vice President Kim Soon-hee.
In 2025, the total number of professional sports spectators exceeded 17 million, resulting in increased sales. In particular, professional baseball made remarkable achievements last year, surpassing 12 million annual spectators for the first time ever. Participants agreed that professional sports have become a key industry in the national leisure culture.
The meeting discussed ways to solve pending issues such as improving stadium infrastructure and the need to eradicate scalpers for stable league operation, as well as tasks for the development of the professional sports industry, the construction of sports and cultural complexes that can accommodate large sports and cultural events, and the introduction of artificial intelligence technology.
Vice Minister Kim Dae-hyun said, "Professional sports is a leisure culture that gives pleasure to the people and a high value-added industry that expands to the local economy, tourism and content industries," adding, "Beyond quantitative growth, it is now important to upgrade the industrial structure and lay the foundation for sustainable growth." The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, "We will continue to communicate closely with professional sports organizations and try to reflect the voices of the field in our policies."
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*This content was translated by AI.
