Parent Spotlight: Eunjung

[Translated form Korean original text]

*Image from: Kids Swimming Lessons & More in Fairfax | Life Time (Lifetime)

When we moved to Gueok-ri 10 years ago, the closest place where my two children could learn swimming was the Seogwipo Sports Facility in Jungmun, about 20 kilometers from our home. Back in Seoul, there were many children’s swimming pools nearby, even with shuttle buses, but the situation in Jeju was very different.

Because it was a city-run facility, the low cost was certainly an advantage. Still, driving an hour round trip every weekend with two kids was not easy. On swimming days, it became a major family event—everyone had to adjust and move together.

To start swimming, my children needed basic gear like swimsuits, goggles, and swim caps. But to buy those, we had to drive nearly 50 kilometers to Jeju City. That meant a 100-kilometer round trip just to pick up a single item. At the time, online shopping wasn’t as developed as it is today, which made it even more inconvenient.

At first, I was happy to make the trips since my kids enjoyed swimming and it was good for their health. But as time went on, driving an hour each way became a burden. In winter, the bad weather—rainy season or snow—sometimes made driving difficult, and we even had to skip lessons because of it.

Looking back now, I can’t help but wonder what it would have been like if there had been a swimming pool just 10 minutes from home, and shops nearby to easily buy the basic gear. If that had been the case, I believe we could have continued swimming much more consistently. It showed me how much access to basic sports facilities can influence the sustainability of sports participation.

Especially for swimming, which is directly tied to safety, it would be better if children could access and continue learning without difficulty. I truly hope that regional gaps in sports infrastructure can be reduced, so that essential activities for children’s health and safety are not limited by where they live.