Children look around with curiosity at the interior as they board the bus. They look at the screens on the wall and try playing baseball or other sports of their choice. They try using athletic equipment or measure their body fat. In the school yard, a sports day is underway, where both grownups and kids alike have fun playing against each other. All these activities are thanks to the visit of the Sports Bus.

The Sports Bus is a joint project between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Council of Sports For All. Together, they offer opportunities to children in rural areas to experience sports first hand. Many of these districts have little access to modern sporting facilities. K League soccer players and staff members helped with the donation of the two buses for the project by each saving 1 percent of their salary.

These buses have been turned into “moving gyms” equipped with various sporting apparatuses. The interiors are composed of three parts: the Experience Zone, the Measurement Zone and the Digital Exhibition Zone. In the Experience Zone, people can experience various sports using simulation screens. People can use various body-monitoring equipment or receive tailored prescriptions in the Measurement Zone. Users can also learn more about managing their own health or receive information about ways to boost the healthier aspects of their lifestyle by using touch screens in the Digital Exhibition Zone.


The first Sports Bus event took place at a primary school in Ganghwa-gun (county) in Incheon on September 12. Participants included Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Chong and other high-profile figures in the sports sector. Vocalist Kwon Soon-dong, who serves as a PR ambassador for the Sports For All organization, and the pop group Heart Rabbit Girls put on wonderful performances at the event.

Vice Minister Kim praised the project, saying, “The Sports Bus project will visit schools in rural or other distant areas to give a chance to children there to enjoy sports and to have fun playing a sport all day. It will give them dreams and hopes and further contribute to realizing our vision for cultural enrichment.”



The Sports Buses will travel the country and visit primary schools twice a month while carrying various sporting equipment and attending sports days at local schools. The schools will be selected by local governments and educational organizations.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will extend the Sports Bus program to introduce the joy of sports to children across society and to help everyone have equal access to health and athletic facilities.

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
arete@korea.kr