Seoul's Dobong-gu and Mapo-gu will implement a salary grade system for sports instructors affiliated with the sports association starting next year. The plan is to raise their wages based on years of service, similar to public servants. The aim is to create an environment where young sports instructors can work in the area for a long time. These regions are the first among Seoul's local districts to do so, but Gwangju has been implementing such a system since last year. In Jeonnam, sports instructors receive an additional 100,000 won monthly according to their years of service.
◇capacity for 2,800 sports instructors... continuously hiring throughout the year
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 28th, as of this year, the capacity for sports instructors affiliated with city and county sports associations nationwide is 2,800. By region, Seoul has the most with 347, followed by Gyeonggi with 325, Jeonnam with 260, Gyeongnam with 255, Gyeongbuk with 246, Gangwon with 196, and Chungnam with 191.
Sports instructors help local residents with their health by teaching exercise methods. They mainly operate in public facilities like public and private daycare centers, schools, public sports facilities, welfare facilities, senior centers, and senior welfare centers. This is considered a form of welfare for local residents.
In Seoul, the capacity per district is reported to be around 10 to 18. However, it is known that few are operating at full capacity. The Seoul Sports Association's recruitment announcement section features posts from about 10 districts each month stating they are hiring new sports instructors. A sports association official noted, "It is better when there are applicants in a given month," adding, "There are instances when there are no applicants for two to three months."
The situation is similar in other regions. Some sports associations in Gyeonggi also failed to fill their capacity throughout the year. In Gangwon's sports association, the number of shortfalls compared to the capacity for sports instructors was recorded at 23 this year. It is said that this phenomenon is more severe in rural areas.
◇"salary improvement with a grade system" vs "negative impact"
Most local governments cite wages as the reason for difficulties in hiring sports instructors. The basic salary for sports instructors is set annually by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and shared with provinces and cities. This year, it is 2.19 million won, consisting of 50% national funds, 25% city funds, and 25% district funds. This is atop additional allowances from the city or district, such as for holiday work, overtime, and transportation.
As of this year, the basic salary of 2.19 million won is unrelated to years of service. This means that the amount remains the same whether newly hired or after 10 years of service. A person in their 40s with experience as a sports instructor said, "Many children are taught in the evenings after school, and adults or seniors often receive lessons on weekends, meaning there are practically no days off before classes."
To address these issues, Seoul's Dobong-gu and Mapo-gu plan to implement the "salary grade system" starting next year. This system proposes increasing salaries based on accumulated wage grades proportional to years of service, like public servants. A Dobong-gu official stated, "This will act as an incentive for young sports instructors to continue working for longer periods." A Mapo-gu official also said, "As work tenure increases, so does the salary, providing motivation."
Conversely, there are negative views on the salary grade system for sports instructors. A local government official said, "This structure will only benefit long-serving employees among current sports instructors," adding, "This could eventually lead to the departure of young instructors." Another official said, "The current basic salary for sports instructors is not particularly low."