Is Expensive Gear Necessary for Exercise? The Shift Toward Practicality

[Anchor]

The concept of "Healthy Pleasure," which focuses on maintaining health while enjoying exercise, has now become a lifestyle. As fitness trends evolve, the criteria for how people spend money on exercise are also changing.

Reporter Sim Useop has the story.

[Reporter]

Skiing, sled pushing, and rowing.

Office worker Hong Eun-il visits a Hyrox center after work to combine cardio and strength training.

It is much more intense than a regular gym, but the sense of accomplishment after finishing a workout is greater.

[Hong Eun-il/Office Worker: If you exercise while working, you gain the stamina to play more. Honestly, the cost of a few meals out is enough to pay for a month at a fitness center.]

Household spending on sports-related activities plummeted in 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19, but it exceeded 2 million won annually the following year.

This explosive growth in consumption has gradually declined, falling to 1.69 million won last year.

As the craze for golf, cycling, and tennis—which require expensive equipment, clothing, and high membership fees—has cooled down, practical fitness activities like running and hiking have become the mainstream. Consequently, cost-effectiveness has naturally become a priority in related spending.

[Kim Seung-seop/Yongin, Gyeonggi Province: At the end of the day, it is a consumable, so you should buy what fits your level. Just because you buy something very expensive doesn't mean it will last longer, so you have to move past brands and what people call relying on gear to become a true runner.]

From beginner to professional levels, people are researching segmented features and price information, achieving their goals one by one, and finding a sense of accomplishment by tracking their own progress.

[Kim Min-soo/Research Fellow at the Korea Institute of Sport Science: In the past, people would just ask those around them, but now consumers study hard through social media. Also, it has become very easy to find customized products that fit one's body type, physique, and other needs through artificial intelligence.]

Searching second-hand markets first to reduce unnecessary spending or looking for the increasing number of free facilities is also becoming a trend of smart consumption.

(Video reporting: Kim Seung-tae, Video editing: Choi Hye-young, VJ: Jeong Han-wook)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.