When you think of a sports science degree, you might think of studying topics like physiotherapy, biomechanics, sport psychology, and sports nutrition.
That’s all true, but it’s also so much more than that.
For example, any sports organisation needs a business and marketing team too. These are people who combine several disciplines to engage with fans, drive revenues, build a strong brand, and create public interest in the team.
It’s a crucial but often unnoticed part when people think about sports science — but that’s just what Gyeongbin Ryu is majoring in.
Ryu is currently an exchange student at Penn State University. Source: Gyeongbin Ryu
From playing sports to studying sports science
Growing up as an active kid, Ryu’s first introduction to football happened in elementary school. “I’ve been told all my life that I learnt how to run before I learnt how to talk,” laughs Ryu.
However, Ryu’s participation in sports became limited when she moved to an all-girls high school where access to sports facilities was scarce and opportunities to play were not easily available.
“There was a lot of gender discrimination when it came to physical education (PE), and girls didn’t have much access to it,” says Ryu.
A 2025 study revealed that all-boys middle schools have a positive and significant impact on male students’ physical fitness, whereas all-girls middle schools show small and insignificant effects — perhaps a result of what Ryu has experienced.
Because of the lack of teams and facilities, Ryu had no way to take part in sports activities throughout her three years of high school.
“It was hard when I could barely play any sports in high school, but as soon as I entered university, I could do it all over again,” she shares.
Ryu is a part of Sungkyunkwan University’s women’s football team (SKKU WFC 여우락) and served as a captain in 2023, leading the team to its first championship victory. Source: Gyeongbin Ryu
Ryu is currently pursuing a dual bachelor’s degree in sports science and business administration at Sungkyunkwan University.
“I love being active; I naturally gravitated towards sports and anything that would allow me to be competitive,” she says.
“I didn’t have a deep understanding of the sports science industry when I first entered university. I was going in blind. I thought it was just learning about sports, but in reality, I had to learn other parts of the industry.”
Ryu’s university — Sungkyunkwan University — is a part of that revelation.
There, they strongly encourage sports science students to pursue a double major. One of the most common options? Business administration, which Ryu is enrolled in.
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For Ryu, this was the perfect combination
“I went with business administration because my interest in sports marketing was growing,” she says. “Also, it’s valuable to have a business degree in the Korean job market now as it can be integrated into not only the sports industry but others too.”
Beyond that, Sungkyunkwan University offers various global programmes not only through traditional exchange semesters but also through seasonal and short-term study abroad opportunities, allowing students to broaden their international experience.
Their study abroad programme spans approximately 40 countries and over 170 universities, designed to expose students to various disciplines beyond South Korea.
Ryu herself is a recipient of the 2025 SKKU-BA-DIVE Programme (SKKU Bridging and Diverse International Visiting Experience), a student-driven initiative that supports participation in seasonal international academic programmes.
Today, she is an exchange student at the Pennsylvania State University in the US.
During her time abroad at Penn State, Ryu has had the opportunity to visit stadiums all over the US and watch different sporting events. Source: Gyeongbin Ryu
Sports in the US vs South Korea
Most sports have an international reach, and if you ever hope to work in one of them, it’s almost necessary to learn about them in different countries.
“I want to broaden my understanding of the field while studying in an English-speaking country,” says Ryu.
Her choice to pursue her studies in the US was driven by the incomparable collegiate sports ecosystem found in the country, as well as major sports leagues such as the Major League Baseball (MLB), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL).
Attending Penn State specifically meant she would learn from the best in the sports industry. Not only is the university ranked #14 on QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025’s Sports-Related Subjects, but it is also home to several Olympic athletes.
Plus, the state is also known for its vibrant sports culture, being home to iconic teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), the Philadelphia 76ers (NBA), and the Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB).
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Throughout her time in the US, Ryu had plenty of opportunities to visit several iconic stadiums in Pittsburgh, such as Highmark Stadium, Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, and the Petersen Events Centre.
She even attended the 8th Penn State Sports Business Conference, where sports industry leaders and recruiters gathered under one roof to network with students.
Ryu can’t deny the benefits of studying sports science in the US.
Here, where collegiate sports are a large and influential part of American culture and often the pathway for student-athletes to become national-athletes and Olympians, there’s truly no better place to find yourself learning the ins and outs of the industry than in America.
“College sports in general are on a different level in the US than in South Korea,” says Ryu. “In the US, to become an athlete, you’ll still need to take a normal degree. In South Korea, you can pursue a degree in specific sports and do not need to pursue a degree in, for example, business.”
It might be a bit of a culture shock for some, but that’s the simple truth.
In the US, to be a university athlete, you’ll need a degree to back yourself up to pursue your athletic dreams. Like Peter Kavinsky in “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” who had to keep his grades up to play lacrosse at Stanford University; in the real world, you’ve got Livvy Dunne, a former member of the Louisiana State University (LSU) women’s gymnastics team who has an undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies.
South Korea has a similar story, though it has only recently gained traction.
A 2013 study about the post-retirement career of athletes found only 17% of athletes worked in physical education after retiring, while 43% had no job at all.
“I’ve seen many athletes back home sacrifice their lives to their sports, especially often foregoing academics,” says Ryu. “They take a degree solely in their sport, not even a sports science degree, and they dedicate their life to it, and many don’t end up on the professional level.”
“They just train and master the arts of their sports throughout their degree, putting them at a disadvantage when they enter the non-competitive sports world.”
This is one of the main reasons Ryu decided to pursue a sports science degree that would allow her to get a broader perspective of the field.
Ryu and her classmates during a visit to PNC Park. Source: Gyeongbin Ryu
The future of a sports science graduate
In a few months, Ryu will be heading to Berlin, Germany, as part of the 2025 SKKU-BA-DIVE Programme.
She will attend Freie Universität Berlin International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) to immerse herself in Germany’s academic offerings.
There, she hopes to reflect on Germany’s historical and political journey as a once-divided nation, as that may offer meaningful insight to Korea’s situation today.
“I wanted a global perspective of this industry, and Germany is one of the places where I want to do it,” says Ryu. “But it goes beyond just sports. I’m interested in knowing about their culture and social scene.”
When she returns to South Korea, Ryu has big plans that she’s ready to dive into.
“I hope to become an international figure in Korean sports — someone who would contribute to both the local and foreign market,” she says.
This will be done by using the knowledge she gained from the US and Germany, allowing her to be a more well-rounded marketer in the industry.
“I want to gain experience within sports agencies and federations, and eventually move on to working for international sports governing bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC),” says Ryu. “I hope to contribute to strengthening Korean sports on the global stage by addressing structural gaps in gender equity and collegiate sports systems.”
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