Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City Selected for Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Senior Sports Program, Bringing New Vitality to the HAHA Campus

내용

Busan Metropolitan City Mayor Park Heong-joon announced that the city has been finally selected for the “2026 Senior Sports Program Support Project,” hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, securing KRW 3 billion in national funding over a three-year period.

This public call for proposals was launched to identify and support outstanding planning projects that reflect the sports needs of local seniors and regional characteristics.

The city earned high marks by proposing a program linked to the HAHA Campus, a large-scale senior complex currently being developed for the first time nationwide by utilizing idle facilities at a local university, Busan Catholic University.

Moving beyond conventional programs for seniors operated by social welfare centers or senior welfare facilities, Busan Metropolitan City has been running the HAHA Edu Program with a focus on courses in high demand among active seniors—energetic older adults with strong participation needs.

With the momentum gained from securing national funding, the city plans to substantially enhance the lifestyle sports content of the existing HAHA Edu Program and develop the HAHA Campus into a landmark symbol of sports welfare for the new senior generation.

The city also unveiled key initiatives to be added to next year’s HAHA Edu Program, including the opening and operation of senior lifestyle sports classes at the HAHA Campus and the hosting of an intergenerational HAHA Lifestyle Sports Festival.

Under the “HAHA Campus Senior Lifestyle Sports Classes,” starting next year, programs will target active seniors aged 50 and above, offering classes in sports with rapidly growing demand such as pickleball, tennis, billiards, pocket billiards, table tennis, walking, and trekking. Classes will be divided into beginner and intermediate levels by sport to provide customized instruction based on participants’ abilities. Participation barriers will be lowered by fully waiving or discounting tuition fees for basic livelihood security recipients and other vulnerable groups.

The intergenerational HAHA Lifestyle Sports Festival, scheduled for November next year, will bring together senior participants, their children, grandchildren, and other family members in a shared celebration. The city plans to organize a range of events, including sport-specific tournament competitions, the Busan Citizens’ HAHA Healthy Walking Event along the Yunsan Barrier-Free Sharing Trail (2 km), family relay races, and other family sports activities, creating a venue for communication and harmony across generations.

Jung Tae-gi, Director General of the City’s Social Welfare Bureau, stated, “This selection recognizes Busan Metropolitan City’s efforts to create an environment where seniors can age healthily and happily in a super-aged society.” He added, “We will make every effort to ensure that the HAHA Campus becomes both a healthy playground for seniors and a central hub for intergenerational integration.”