Despite rising health concerns, just over a quarter of South Korean adults meet the recommended levels of physical activity. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Despite rising health concerns, just over a quarter of South Korean adults meet the recommended levels of physical activity, placing the country well above the global average for physical inactivity, according to a new government report.
The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) revealed Wednesday that only 26.6% of adults engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in 2023. The findings were based on a nationwide health survey of approximately 230,000 Koreans aged 19 and older.
The KDCA defines adequate physical activity as either at least 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week (such as running or hiking), or 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week (like swimming or badminton). Occupational activity was included in the analysis, but walking was excluded.
South Korea’s inactivity rate, currently at 58.1%, is nearly double the global average of 31.3%, based on comparable 2022 data.
Physical activity levels plummeted during the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping from 24.7% in 2019 to below 20% in 2020 and 2021. While the rate has slowly recovered in the past two years, it remains low.
Regional disparities were notable: Gwangju (23.0%), Daegu (23.7%), and North Jeolla (24.7%) recorded the lowest activity levels, while Jeju (33.0%) and South Gyeongsang (31.8%) were among the highest. Urban residents were generally less active than those in rural areas (26.5% vs. 28.2%).
Gender and age gaps were also stark. Only 19.5% of women met the guidelines, compared to 30.2% of men. Activity rates were highest among people in their 20s (32.3%) and declined steadily with age, particularly among men. For women, rates remained consistently low across all age groups.
Health status appeared to influence activity levels: people without hypertension or diabetes were more active (26.8%) than those with such conditions (19.6%). Likewise, adults without depressive symptoms had higher activity rates (25.1%) compared to those with symptoms (17.3%).
While these findings suggest a link between physical activity and health outcomes, the KDCA cautioned that further research is needed to establish causality.
KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee urged the public to take the findings seriously, warning that a lack of physical activity increases the risk of chronic illnesses and worsens mental health.
“Small, consistent movements—like biking, running, or hiking—can have a big impact,” Jee said, calling for national efforts to incorporate more exercise into daily life.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
