A Seoul sports club has been advised to revise its membership policies to prevent age-based discrimination. Korea Times file

The National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) deemed the restriction of sports facility memberships based on age as discriminatory.

The NHRCK announced Monday its recommendation to the director of a private sports club in Seoul to revise club policies and prevent the recurrence of age-based discrimination, ensuring that individuals over 65 are not barred from membership.

The case was brought forward by a 68-year-old, who in January attempted to join the club as a short-term member for 12 months.

The man, who had used the club's facilities via daily passes for about five years, was denied membership solely due to being over the age limit of 65. Arguing that this age restriction was unfair, he filed a complaint.

The sports club cited safety concerns and operational difficulties, with the director noting, "Accidents have become more frequent as the membership ages. Although we're placing safety personnel, immediate responses can be challenging."

However, the commission concluded that this age-based restriction constitutes discrimination, reasoning that the rate of accidents at sports facilities does not necessarily correlate with age, daily users are permitted access without age verification, and existing members retain their membership even after surpassing the age limit.

It also pointed out that such blanket restrictions could perpetuate negative perceptions about older adults.

It warned that a policy like this could reinforce the stereotype that people over 65 are physically frail or pose a risk to others, potentially justifying the exclusion of older adults from commercial facilities.

The commission said, "In a society where the older adult population is rapidly growing, it is crucial that senior citizens are not excluded from sports facilities," and recommended preventive measures to avoid recurrence of age-based restrictions.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.