Songpa-gu (Head of District Office Seo Kang-seok) will be the first autonomous district in Seoul to change the wage system for Songpa-gu Sports Association’s sports instructors to a seniority system starting January 1, 2025. Through this reorganization, it plans to establish a reasonable salary system based on career experience to increase wage fairness, boost the morale of sports instructors, and encourage long-term employment.
 [Korean Today] Songpa-gu, the first autonomous district in Seoul to introduce a salary system for sports instructors © Reporter Seung-ju Ji |
Songpa-gu announced that it will be the first among the 25 autonomous districts of Seoul to change the wage system of its sports instructors to a *’grade system’* that reflects their careers. This is a measure to increase the job satisfaction of instructors and the stability of the organization through fair compensation based on their work experience.
◆ Problems with the existing salary system
Currently, the sports instructors affiliated with the Songpa-gu Sports Association are operating various sports programs for residents at public sports facilities in the district. However, concerns have been raised continuously about the low morale and work motivation of veteran instructors due to the small difference in salary between new and experienced instructors.
The structure in which a veteran with 25 years of leadership experience and a first-year new employee receive the same base salary resulted in undervaluing the expertise of experienced leaders, which in turn led to a lack of incentives for long-term employment.
◆ Background and expected effects of the introduction of the seniority system
Accordingly, Songpa-gu has decided to introduce a new *’salary system’* that fairly reflects the careers of sports instructors. The purpose of this reorganization is to raise the morale of competitive career instructors, prevent them from leaving the organization, and encourage sustainable long-term employment.
The new wage system will be introduced based on the civil service organization’s salary scale. Salaries will be reasonably determined based on individual career experience, and the more favorable one will be applied by comparing the civil service salary table and the basic salary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s sports instructors. In addition, additional support funds will be provided according to salary scale to eliminate salary gaps.
◆ Reducing conflicts and ensuring fairness within the organization
A former official said, “The introduction of this seniority-based pay system is focused on reducing conflicts between junior and senior employees and establishing a fair wage system,” and “It is expected to resolve the unfair situation where new leaders and leaders with many years of experience receive the same salary.”
◆ Expectations for revitalization of sports for daily life
This wage system reform is expected to increase job satisfaction among sports instructors, encourage long-term employment, and stabilize the organization. This is expected to have a positive effect on improving the quality of sports programs and expanding participation in sports for Songpa-gu residents.
◆ Songpa-gu’s will
Songpa-gu District Mayor Seo Kang-seok said, “The introduction of this salary system will be the first step toward fairly recognizing the expertise and experience of career leaders,” and “We will work to revitalize local sports by improving the working environment and welfare of recreational sports leaders.”
It is expected that Songpa-gu’s introduction of a salary system for recreational sports instructors will greatly contribute to improving the stability of recreational sports sites and the health and quality of life of residents by establishing a fair wage system.
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