Facilitation or Replacement: ICT Use in Leisure Constraints Negotiation During the Digital Transformation Era

This study explores how Information and Communications Technology (ICT) impacts active leisure activity participants in South Korea, focusing on leisure constraints and negotiation strategies. As ICT continues to transform leisure experiences, this research examines whether ICT serves as a facilitator or replacement for traditional active leisure. Using survey data from 285 adult participants, the study categorizes ICT’s influence based on framework. Key findings reveal that while time management and energy conservation strategies shape ICT use as a leisure facilitator or replacement, fitness level adjustments are associated with ICT’s facilitative role in active leisure. These insights highlight the nuanced ways digital tools impact leisure participation, especially among various demographic groups. The findings suggest that ICT’s dual role in either supporting or substituting leisure reflects broader trends in digital transformation and informs the development of digital tools aimed at enhancing well-being through active leisure engagement.