In spite of the ongoing pandemic, the SNU Center for Sport Development & Promotion has continued to support the operation of various sports-related programs, teams, and classes, continuing its mission of looking after the health and wellbeing of the SNU community.

A panoramic view of SNU’s main sports complex

The Center was established in 2017, as a merging of the Committee for Sports Promotion and the Committee for Sports Center Management. Since then, the Center has been responsible for overseeing most of SNU’s sports programs and facilities, including outdoor facilities such as the main sports complex, secondary sports complex and clay court, as well as indoor facilities such as the gymnasium, Korean dance room and table tennis room. Both students and faculty have easy access to these facilities, and can reserve time slots through the Center’s website.

Every spring and fall semester, the Center offers classes covering eight different sports, including golf, basketball, and badminton. A total of 19 classes are available catering to every skill-level, ensuring that everyone is able to find a suitable class. Choi Kyu-hyun of the Center’s policy planning division noted that, while undergraduate students are able to participate in sports activities through elective courses, graduate students and university staff do not have the same luxury. “Classes under the Center for Sport Development & Promotion are open to everyone, and we’ve taken into consideration differences in skill-level. We have also added Pilates and yoga classes, which are growing in popularity.”

The Center is also responsible for supporting the various teams that represent the university. As of now, SNU has 36 active sports teams, including the kendo, golf, and traditional archery teams. University sports teams differ from regular clubs in that they are supported financially by the Center. In order to qualify, teams must pass an assessment that evaluates them based on factors ranging from performance to experience, and ensures that there is only one official team registered for each sport. Most recently, the Center has also been advising teams on protocols for preventing the spread of COVID-19.

The Center has also been working towards fostering a healthy recognition of sports culture. To that end, the Center’s homepage featured reading recommendations for site visitors, which Choi says will allow SNU members to familiarize themselves with sports culture through various media. Choi also noted that the Center plans in the near future to add walking/running courses to the campus maps, and will continue to develop new sports programs.

While the pandemic has limited the scope of sports-related events on the university’s annual calendar, the Center for Sport Development & Promotion has only increased its efforts in safeguarding the health of all the members of our campus community.

Source: https://www.snu.ac.kr/snunow/snu_story?md=v&bbsidx=132067

Written by Min Seo Ki, SNU English Editor, mskey717@gmail.com
Reviewed by Professor Travis Smith, Department of Asian Languages and Civilizations, tlsmith@snu.ac.kr