South Korean sports body seeks two veteran athletes for medical and living-cost aid
In short
The Seoul Olympic Memorial National Sports Promotion Foundation (서울올림픽기념국민체육진흥공단), with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is taking applications for its 2026 support programme for veteran athletes. Two people will be chosen, one athlete and one athlete with a disability, and each can receive up to 30 million won for medical costs and 10 million won for living costs. Applications close on November 20.
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The Seoul Olympic Memorial National Sports Promotion Foundation (서울올림픽기념국민체육진흥공단) said on October 22 that it is running the 2026 veteran athlete support programme with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The Kukmin Ilbo and Yonhap reported that the programme is meant to help veteran athletes who contributed to the country through sport but are in difficult circumstances because of living conditions and chronic illness. [ 1 , 2 ]
Applicants must be athletes aged 60 or over with a clear record of contribution to sports promotion. They must also have been in long-term care for a year or more because of illness or injury, or be basic livelihood recipients or in the next-lowest class (차상위계층) under the National Basic Living Security Act, the Kukmin Ilbo and Yonhap reported. The Dong-A Ilbo described the target group as athletes aged 60 or over who need medical or living-cost support. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The foundation plans to select two people this year, one athlete and one athlete with a disability. Those chosen can receive up to 30 million won for medical costs and 10 million won for living costs. The Dong-A Ilbo wrote that living-cost support is up to 10 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The deadline is November 20. Yonhap reported that applicants submit a set form online or by post, while the Dong-A Ilbo reported submission by email or registered mail. Yonhap and the Dong-A Ilbo said details are available on the athlete welfare support portal, spowell.kspo.or.kr. [ 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The programme is small, with two recipients this year, and is aimed at veteran athletes in difficult circumstances. The documents give no wider consequences.
Key facts
- The foundation and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism are running the 2026 veteran athlete support programme, announced on October 22. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Applicants must be athletes aged 60 or over with a clear record of contribution to sports promotion. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- They must also be in long-term care of a year or more because of illness or injury, or be basic livelihood recipients or in the next-lowest class (차상위계층). [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Two people will be selected this year, one athlete and one athlete with a disability. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Support is up to 30 million won for medical costs and 10 million won for living costs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The application deadline is November 20. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The foundation, together with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is recruiting recipients for the 2026 veteran athlete support programme, with a deadline of November 20. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Two recipients will be chosen, one athlete and one athlete with a disability, each eligible for up to 30 million won in medical costs and 10 million won in living costs. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Eligible applicants are athletes aged 60 or over with a clear record of contribution to sports promotion who are in long-term care of a year or more, or are basic livelihood recipients or in the next-lowest class. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How applications are submitted. Yonhap says the form can be submitted online or by post; the Dong-A Ilbo says by email or registered mail; the Kukmin Ilbo does not say.
- Whether the 10 million won living-cost figure is a maximum. The Dong-A Ilbo says up to 10 million won; the Kukmin Ilbo and Yonhap give 10 million won without "up to".