The Korea Professional Sports Association (hereinafter referred to as the association) will provide "professional psychological counseling services" to help those engaged in professional sports achieve psychological stability and sustain their careers. The target audience includes professional athletes, coaches (managers, coaches, etc.), referees, and other sports personnel registered with the seven professional organizations (K League, KBO, KBL, WKBL, KOVO, KPGA, KLPGA) during the support period.
The association's psychological counseling support program focuses on alleviating various psychological difficulties, including stress and pressure experienced during gameplay, decreases in performance, criticism from fans, and anxiety after retirement. The type of counseling is primarily face-to-face, but video, phone, and text counseling are also available, depending on the game schedule. Counseling sessions last 60 minutes each and can be conducted up to 10 times, with the content of the counseling strictly confidential and not provided to clubs, leagues, or the association. This year's support services will run until Feb. 28, 2026, and are operated with the sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.
To provide professional psychological counseling support, a total of 17 professional counselors will participate, offering tailored counseling services. All counselors hold a master's degree or higher in counseling or psychology and possess certified qualifications in psychological counseling at level 1 or above, issued by the government or major academic societies, along with over five years of experience counseling adults. They are set to provide professional counseling services to help athletes and coaches tackle psychological issues they face.
Counseling applications can be made online or via mobile on the association's official website, with all counseling provided free of charge. Detailed information about the counseling services and the counselors' qualifications can also be verified on the website.
According to a survey of clients conducted in 2024, the types of issues reported in counseling included stress (22%), anxiety (21%), decrease in performance (17%), and depression (12%). Clients shared their thoughts, saying, "I felt much more comfortable after receiving counseling," "I learned how to manage anxiety and stress," and "I hope this program continues to operate."
Meanwhile, there is an increasing number of instances in the professional sports sector introducing mental coaching or specialized psychological counseling programs to support athletes in improving their performance and achieving psychological stability. The association has been running this support program since 2021 to ensure that not only athletes but also coaches and referees can receive counseling support at any time.
An association official noted, "For professional sports personnel, psychological factors are just as important as performance," and said, "We hope this psychological counseling support will provide practical assistance in resolving the psychological issues of those engaged in professional sports and help them continue their athletic activities sustainably."
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