National Fitness 100

A national fitness management project operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation that measures and certifies citizens’ fitness and supports custo

National Fitness 100

Overview

National Fitness 100 (Korean: 국민체력100) is a state-level fitness measurement and certification system operated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation. It helps any citizen scientifically diagnose their fitness level, receive a grade (certificate), and use it for health management. It began as a pilot project in 2010 and was fully implemented in 2012. Under the slogan “Fitness is national power,” it is operated mainly through fitness certification centers nationwide. The “100” in the name signifies preparing for the age of 100 through improved national fitness.

Main Content

Background and Purpose

With rapid aging and increased sedentary lifestyles, the decline in citizens’ fitness and the risk of chronic diseases grew, raising the need to manage individual health through prevention rather than post-treatment. National Fitness 100 aims to accumulate measurement results as data and use them as basic material for national fitness policy, while providing customized exercise prescriptions to individuals.

Fitness Measurement Items

Fitness is measured by dividing it into health-related fitness and performance-related fitness. Representative items assessed include cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, power, agility, balance, and coordination. Measurement events and standards differ by age and sex, and programs are designed by life cycle, including childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and older adulthood.

Grade Certification and Benefits

Measurement results are converted into a comprehensive score, and fitness certification grades from Grade 1 to Grade 3 are awarded. Certified citizens can receive a fitness certificate and various incentives, such as discounts on fees at some public sports facilities, health insurance-linked programs, and eligibility to participate in various sports competitions.

Operating System

Fitness certification centers are established nationwide at the city/province and city/county/district levels, providing measurement services free of charge or at low cost. After measurement, exercise prescription specialists consult and provide customized exercise programs based on individual result sheets, and track and manage fitness changes through regular re-measurement.

Expected Effects

National Fitness 100 is significant in that it not only improves individual health but also secures fitness statistics for the entire population, providing a basis for establishing sports and health policies. It is also evaluated as a preventive health management model that encourages participation in recreational sports and contributes to reducing medical costs.

Latest Trends

In 2024–2025, digital transformation emerged as a key topic. It is being advanced toward real-time management of measurement data and provision of AI-based exercise prescription services by linking mobile apps and wearable devices. As non-face-to-face and online measurement and self-fitness diagnosis services expand, accessibility has improved, and locally embedded fitness management projects through cooperation with local governments are increasing. In response to entry into a super-aged society, programs for fall prevention and sarcopenia management for older adults are being strengthened, and school-linked projects targeting adolescent obesity and declining fitness are also expanding. Convergence with the data-based customized health care industry is also accelerating.