ABSTRACT
The sports industry in Korea has experienced significant environmental changes over the last three decades. According to the annual report of the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism in 2013, the contribution of the sports industry accounted for 2.91% of the gross domestic product (GDP), whereas the total value of the Korean sports industry amounted to approximately US$38.69 billion in 2012. This finding represents an almost 5.96% increase compared with the contribution levels in 2011, which totaled about US$36.51 billion. This high pace of development would not have been possible without fast growth in the rate of participation in sports. Since the 1990s, participation in sports in both active and passive forms has grown in popularity, and it has become one of the most common and popular types of leisure activities in Korea. Hosting mega sports events such as the Olympic Games, World Cup, and World Championship in Athletics worked as catalysts for people to expand their knowledge and understanding regarding sports, which in turn inspired people to participate in various forms of sports activities.
