▲ Byung Chul Jung  Vice Chairman of the FKI

As the economy is recovering steadily, the employment situation is improving somewhat. The number of the employed increased by some 270,000 in March. Of the total, some 190,000 jobs were created in the private sector. It is regarded as a green light that the economic recovery pace is spreading to expansion of employment in the private sector.

However, there are still some opposing opinions. The rise in the number of jobs in March this year is attributable to the worst employment situation in the same month of last year. Another problem lies in the fact that most of the increased jobs concentrated on those in their 50s. Actually, the number of jobs for the youth deceased by more than 20,000 in March last year.

We should seek blue ocean to create new jobs. It needs to find out new industries, but more important thing is to find out existing sectors we did not recognize as an industry in the past. One of them is the sports industry.

As mentioned in the media several times, if we upgrade sport infrastructure to the level of sports superpowers, we can make more new jobs.


To stabilize general people's life, the number of jobs should be increased. The increase in the number of jobs leads to a rise in people's income, accelerating private consumption, corporate production and investment. It also creates employment again, generating virtuous circle. The economic indicators improved thanks to strong exports. However, if employment situation does not improve, people cannot feel actual improvement in their life. According to a recent FKI survey result, 41% of people think the economy is still in a slump.

However, job creation is not so easy. As such main industries as semiconductors, automobiles and steel have already entered a mature stage, it is difficult to increase jobs in the fields sharply. Moreover, under the situation that China armed with cheap labor cost is chasing South Korea, it is not a fully right thing to increase employment. After all, there is a limit for some part to increase jobs through investment in existing industries.

Accordingly, we should seek blue ocean to create new jobs. It needs to find out new industries, but more important thing is to find out existing sectors we did not recognize as an industry in the past. One of them is the sports industry.

As of 2007, the volume of Korea's sports industry reached 23.3 trillion won, about 2.6% of the GDP. Considering that the portion of the agricultural, forestry and fishery industry and the mining industry came to 1.4% and 1.7%, respectively, the sports industry is a big one.

The people's interest in sports is growing recently owing to an increase in interest in health and a rise in leisure time, as well as Korean players' good fights in global sports events. As mentioned in the media several times, if we upgrade sport infrastructure to the level of sports superpowers, we can make more new jobs.

The recent revision of related laws allows establishment of profitable, convenient and play facilities in large stadiums for professional games. In case of the World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong that set up such facilities according to the World Cup special law, 127 persons manage and operate the stadium, whereas 546 persons work at a large discount mart, a movie theater, and a wedding hall. In case of developing some 20 other World Cup stadiums and pro baseball stadiums like this, about 10,000 new jobs will be created. Local governments operating stadium can enjoy handsome profits, and spectators can play or eat good foods, while watching games. These days, enjoying screen golf game is popular. About 25,000 people are estimated to have been working at 5,000 screen golf shops across the country. Even four or five years ago, we could not imagine such a thing.