Gangseo-gu to Run Summer Youth Sports Classes from July 27 — 10 Classes in 6 Sports Including Music Jump Rope and Indoor Climbing, Recruiting 129 Students

Applications via the public sports facilities website July 6–10 — free of charge, with final spots decided by lottery

Song Jung-sook, Reporter Posted 2026/07/03 [09:03] Article No. 51695

Seoul’s Gangseo-gu (District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon) will run its “Summer Youth Sports Classes” to help young people build fitness and enjoy healthy leisure during the summer break. Held over three weeks from July 27 to August 14 at public and private sports facilities across the district, the program is open to 129 elementary, middle, and high school students and comprises 10 classes across six sports: music jump rope, indoor climbing, ice skating, bowling, girls’ futsal, and table tennis. As a flagship community sports initiative that lets young people try a range of activities they rarely have access to — free of charge during the break — the program is drawing keen interest from students and parents alike.

[코리안투데이] Indoor climbing class (2025 summer break sports classes) © 송정숙 기자

This year’s lineup stands out for its broader mix of sports. A new “music jump rope” class has been added for first- through fourth-graders, while eligibility has been segmented by age and sport: indoor climbing (elementary, middle, and high school students), ice skating (elementary students), bowling (fourth grade through high school), girls’ futsal (elementary school girls), and table tennis (fourth grade through middle school). The district said the expanded slate of options “reflects the increasingly diverse demands of young people.” With reduced opportunities for physical activity outside school and rising use of digital devices leaving declining youth fitness as a growing social concern, the program is seen as an effort to encourage regular exercise habits by taking advantage of the free time the break affords.

[코리안투데이] Table tennis class (2025 summer break sports classes) © 송정숙 기자

Preparations have also been made to ensure quality instruction and safety. The district has appointed experienced professional instructors who hold the relevant coaching certifications, and local sports venues — including KBS Sports World, the Gayang Leports Center, and the Gangseo Climbing Center — are taking part by providing training spaces. Applications are accepted over five days, from 9 a.m. on July 6 to 6 p.m. on July 10, by registering as a member on the Gangseo-gu public sports facilities website (sports.gangseo.seoul.kr). Each applicant may sign up for only one sport; those who apply for two or more will be disqualified, and any sport that draws fewer than 60 percent of its recruitment quota may be canceled. Final participants will be chosen by lottery, with results announced on the website at 10 a.m. on July 14 and by individual text message.

While the classes are free, participants must cover personal equipment rental fees where the sport requires them: 30,000 won for skating and indoor climbing, and 40,000 won for bowling. Last summer the district ran 10 classes in six sports for 135 young people, and this year it again plans to survey participants and parents on their satisfaction after the program ends, incorporating their suggestions into next year’s community sports plans.

“I hope students will experience a variety of sports they rarely get to try during the break, build their basic fitness, and make enjoyable summer memories,” said Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon. “We will continue to work harder on developing tailored sports programs to support young people’s healthy physical development and expand community sports.” For more information, contact the Gangseo-gu Office’s Sports and Tourism Division at 02-2600-6412.

[송정숙 기자 : gangseo@thekoreantoday.com]