CURRENT STATUS & PERSPECTIVE OF THE SPORTS INDUSTRY IN KOREA, U.S., AND JAPAN

The purpose of this paper is to identify current trends in the sport industry in Korea, U.S. and Japan and to also analyze the potential of the sport industry in the 21st Century. This paper analyzes the current sport related index of Korea, U.S. and Japan and the effect of scientific development. Scientific development has provided prosperity to modern societies and has thus increased the personal disposable income and leisure time available to people living in these societies, Many people spend their?leisure time on sports related activities and the number is growing day by day and this situation makes the sports market a very attractive and important business sector in the world. Considering the increase of household income and leisure time and the introduction of a five-day working week system, the sports market potential growth will be considerable and it is certain the demand for sports related activities, services and products will also show increases in the 21st Century. This paper estimates that sports expenditures could be estimated at $10 billion in Korea, $150 billion in U.S and 4.3 billion yen in Japan. The general trends currently in action in the sport industry estimate that these numbers are growing rapidly and the relative importance of the sport industry among all industries is becoming one of the most important new emerging markets in the world.