Park Chae-hee, a professor at Hankook University of Education, said, "Activating sports for the elderly in a super-aged society and preparing for my future

Dec 17, 2024

Park Chae-hee, a senior welfare and sports professor at Hankook University, is chatting with members of the school's Hankook University 55+ Sports Center.

In the new year of 2025, Korea enters a super-aged society where the elderly are 10 million years old and 20% of the population is 65 or older. In an era when quality of life is a hot topic, not just life extension, '8899 (88 to 99 years old)'Essential element of old age is muscle strength. Muscle mass usually begins to decline in the mid-30s, plunging to 30% in the 60s and as much as 50% in the 80s. Investment in 'muscle', which is directly related to physical and mental health, 'muscle' is the best investment for a happy old age. This year, the Korea Sports Association operated 'Elderly Sports Classes and Festivals'Elderly Gymnastics Classes' at 620 locations in 19 sports and 220 locations in 17 cities and provinces. For seniors, muscle strength is vitality, and exercise is 'life' and 'bab'.

Park Chae-hee, a senior sports expert at Hankook University's Department of Senior Welfare and Sports, advises a senior member of the school company Hankook University 55+ Sports Center's functional improvement class at 7:30 a.m. on the 2nd.Photo = Reporter Jeon Young-ji

At 7:30 a.m. on the 2nd, Phil Seung-kwan of Hankook University in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and the morning exercise of seniors in the cold wind in the middle of winter was hot. After warming up by walking, the class of 'high intensity' using a gymstick continued. It was clearly said that the class was for people over 65 years old, but it was difficult to guess the age. His strong body, upright posture, and physical strength that easily performed several sets of squats were elated. I thought they would be in their 40s because of the praise that they are in their 50s…," he said with a smile. I was full of energy. "They've been working out with me for more than 10 years." Park Chae-hee, a professor of sports and welfare for the elderly at Hankook University, smiled.

The Korea Sports University 55+ Sports Center program run by Professor Park. In 2001, at the age of 29, Professor Park met Professor Wojtech Hochiko Zaiko (68) at the University of Illinois in the U.S. Professor Park, who returned home after three years of the 'Lifetime Fitness' community program run by Professor Hochiko Jaiko at 6 a.m. every day, introduced the program to the Korea National University Lifelong Education Center in 2012. He directly led the seniors' athletic field and studied changes. Professor Park said, `At that time, the environment was completely different between the United States and Korea. I thought that there was nothing I could do right away with the knowledge I learned in the United States." For more than a decade, Professor Park observed the scene in a low posture and sought change. During the 2022 forum of the Korean Sports Association 'Rewrite as a sports sport for the elderly in Korea'I felt that 'the times have changed now'

Management of the Korea Sports University 55+ Sports Center, a school company, including Park Chae-hee, a senior welfare and physical education professor at Korea Sports University (second from left), Oh Joo-young, a professional instructor, Kim Ji-hee, a Korean sports student, and Lee Kyung-jin, a Korean sports graduate, pose for a heart. Photo = Reporter Jeon Young-ji

Professor Park gathered 12 years of know-how and established a school company '55+Sports Center' that provides specialized sports services for the elderly last year. As a professor of 'National University', I am challenging myself with the mindset of a senior sports researcher and the belief that I should serve the local community. Senior sports professional instructors from Korea National Sport University will conduct the class themselves. The 15-person capacity, the three-month health enhancement class, the health promotion class, and the PT class were lined up with people waiting through word of mouth. Instructor Oh Joo-young said that the important thing in senior classes is the first generationality of members. "Selecting and guiding appropriate exercise movements considering physical characteristics" and emphasizing '2nd, 'motivation for continuous exercise participation'"As senior professional exercise instructors, when I see members who love and are passionate about exercise more than me, I am amazed at their attitude toward old age."

Professor Park said "The baby boomers have become the elderly. Sports are the answer to maintain the quality of life in a super-aged society." When asked what he felt while running the senior program himself, Professor Park said, `Those who have exercised steadily for 10 years have a really good attitude. He knows how to use his body well, as the saying goes. Isn't that true equality to give adults who have lived a hard life an opportunity to enjoy the pleasure of sports and exercise?" He then emphasized the need to cultivate senior sports experts. "National sports leadership certificates are not enough for customized guidance for senior citizens.", he pointed out. "Even at the same age, they are all different. It is diverse, including healthy elderly people who play sports, elderly people who train their physical strength to play sports, and elderly people who exercise rehabilitation to recover their health. "Unhealthy people need to recover their health and maintain their function through exercise, but it is unfortunate that they are not guided by experts" he said. "We need a system in which any elderly person can be guided by an exercise expert." "In the case of the elderly, it is essential to understand psychological, physiological, and social aspects as well as simple exercise. There must be skills and expertise to induce internal motivation. That way, we can continue to imbue the elderly into the sport," he stressed. Professor Park defined it as "'Exercise in old age goes beyond hobbies and is the quality of life.'" "It is directly related to living happily while using my body efficiently in everyday life and living as an independent person in society. The elderly these days don't want to depend. Senior professional leaders and the environment are essential to protect social health and an independent quality of life."

This year, when he applied for the research year, Professor Park, who is focusing on researching the senior club 'Pickleball' at a welfare center in Suwon, said "The elderly are also in the era of one sport per person." Anyone can enjoy sports for life. Just as there is no separate 'children's event, there is no separate 'elderly event'. You can change your perception. You can adjust the intensity of all events and make them universal." "Age is just a number. Today is the youngest day, and we need to give fair exercise and sports opportunities to anyone the country and the community wants so that they can enjoy that young day," he said emphatically. Professor Park said, `The exercise of old age is rice. You have to take your movements like you eat every day. Whether it's physical activity, exercise, or sports, you have to find something that suits you and do it steadily every day." "Sports are both a means and a direction for humans to enjoy both physical, psychological and social pleasure. While playing sports together, the image and perception of the elderly change. There is no need to worry that the super-aged society and the elderly will increase. Only a lucky man becomes an old man. Blessing to be an old man, through sports, anyone can lead a healthy body, a healthy relationship, and a happy life" he stressed.

Professor Park laughed, saying, `I am grateful that I majored in sports for the elderly as I get older.' "I didn't know well when I was in my 30s and 40s. After being in their 50s, the future of seniors is my future, our future. If we work hard to change society and culture now, more people, including us, will benefit from it." Professor Park shouted at the members of the 70s and 80s who left the gym door with a bright smile. "You have to work out together until you're 100 years old. I'll be with you in 10 years!"

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