Korea Opens a New Era for Sports in Korea At the Inauguration Ceremony of the Chairman of the Korean Sports Council Yoo Seung Min, about 1,000 people from the sports and political circles gathered.
Mar 27, 2025
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At the inauguration ceremony, the 42nd president of the Korea Sports Council in Yoo Seung Min declared the vision of an era of integration, innovation, and a new sports. At the inauguration ceremony held at the Grand Hyatt Seoul Hotel on the 27th, as many as 1,000 sportsmen and guests of all ages gathered. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, former Prime Minister Chung Un-chan, Special Committee Chairman for Budget and Accounts of the National Assembly, Jang Mi-ran, 2nd Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Park Jung-ha, Secretary of the People's Power, Lim Oh-kyung, Secretary of the Democratic Party of Korea, Bae Hyun-jin, Cho Gye-won, Lee Soo-hyun, Kim Jae-won, Jin Jong-oh, Kim Seung-won, Jeon Yong-ki, Lee Joon-seok, Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok (Chairman of the Provincial Governor's Council), Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon and Jeonbuk Governor Kim Kwan-young. Various sports officials attended, including Cho Jung-won, president of the World Taekwondo Federation, Ha Hyung-ju, chairman of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Chung Jin-wan, chairman of the Korean Sports Association, 33 national athletes and athletes from Jincheon, youth athletes from Hwaseong FC, and representatives of sponsors of the Korea Sports Association.
In his inaugural address, Chairman Yoo Seung Min of the Korean Sports Council "Today, he stood at a new starting line as the chairman of the Korean Sports Council. To be honest, the sports world is deeply troubled and tested these days due to various conflicts and incidents. But I want to turn this crisis into an opportunity for change. "The essence of sports shone even more during the crisis. The power to get back up even if you fall, the belief that you can go further when you're together, not alone, that's the most powerful energy we have." So I'll be the chairman who listens, feels, and moves. We will listen to the story of the field more closely, understand it sincerely, and solve it together. I will listen to the vivid voices from the field, such as the playground, gym, conference room, not the reports from the tabletop"I promised. "Sports come alive only when there is sweat, there is energy only when people gather, and real change begins only when there is dialogue and empathy. We will make eye contact with athletes, talk with leaders, listen directly to the hardships of sports organizations and provincial sports associations, and think together about the reality that the city, county, and district sports associations experience in the region." "But it's not enough alone. I'm not alone in this road. The future of real sports will be completed only when the Korean Sports Association, sports organizations, municipal and provincial sports associations, sponsors, sportsmen, and the people are all together."
After Chairman Yoo vigorously waved the flag of the Korea Sports Council, which was received from the representative of new employees of the Korea Sports Council, the leader, the national representative Kang Ho-seok, the national judo team Kim Ha-yoon, the two sons Sung-hyuk, a youth soccer player, and the successful group took the stage to congratulate them with a bouquet of flowers.
Chairman Woo Won-sik said in a congratulatory speech that `When the young chairman goes on stage, he feels energized and young in physical education.' "Many people from all walks of life came. I realize again how wide the range of sports and sports is. It is like a Hanmadang festival for sportsmen. I can feel a great ambition in the event name 'New Era Opening'. A more transparent and fair sports association, a place to proclaim the will of sportsmen. As Chairman Yoo stated, we have high expectations for his ambition to create an open sports culture that meets the public's expectations. The National Assembly will also actively help if there is anything to help. The National Assembly and the Sports Council have the same goal in that they aim for a healthy and happy life for the people"Many members of the stylistic committee are here today. The Chairman of the National Assembly and the Culture and Sports Committee will work together to solve the problems of the sports community"I promised. Following the loving congratulatory speech and generous support from Rep. Park Jung (chairman of the Budget and Accounts Committee), Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran stood on the podium. A meaningful congratulatory speech was followed by Taereung-in's senior and junior colleagues, who met as the chairman of the Korean Sports Council and the vice minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for the first time in more than a decade.
Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran "Ha Hyung-ju, Chairman of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Jeong Jin-wan, Chairman of the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled, and Yoo Seung Min are all gold medalists for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. So do I. This is the first time in the history of Korean sports," he said, adding special meaning. "This is the result of reflecting the aspirations of athletes to lead the development of sports by understanding the minds of athletes and leaders." "We had the best performance ever at the Paris Olympics last year, and the athletes' efforts helped the people. However, problems were also pointed out, and I felt sorry to see such a scene on the spot, and I felt sorry for not supporting it. `I believe Chairman Yoo Seung Min will work hard to innovate the sports world so that the people can trust and athletes can take pride in the future,' he said. "The players asked me to use a lot of strength through video messages, but I don't think it's anyone else's job," he said. "It's me when it comes to strength, but I'll also do my best to lead Yoo Seung Min to good changes and good performances." I will do whatever I can for athletes and leaders. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will do the same"I promised. Vice Minister Jang then said "It's been a long time since I took office. There were many difficult things that I was not used to. There were many times when I fell into vagueness because nothing went against my mind. In that sense, watching Chairman Yoo Seung Min be elected and inaugurated as the chairman of the Korean Sports Council gave me a great boost and I felt a strong heart." Vice Minister Jang urged sportsmen to unite around the chairman of the Yoo Seung Min. "Everyone here, athletes, leaders, sports organizations, municipal and municipal sports chiefs must have high expectations. The burden will be heavy. No matter how brilliant a person is, there are few things he can do alone. I hope that all of us will work together for the sports of the Republic of Korea and for the athletes' leadership." I sincerely congratulate Chairman Yoo Seung Min on his inauguration.," he said emphatically. On behalf of the staff of the Korea Sports Council, a congratulatory speech was followed by a congratulatory speech by the union chairman of the Korea Sports Council. In addition to the call for `leadership of inclusion and reform,' he promised that all members of the Korean Sports Council will work together with Chairman Yoo to be reborn as an institution respected by athletes and the people.'
Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon, and North Jeolla Province Governor Kim Kwan-young performed a "One Heart Relay for Promotion of Local Sports" following Chairman Yoo Seung Min, Secretary-General Kim Nam-i, and athlete village head Kim Taek-soo's pledge to practice for a new sports era. The shining inauguration ceremony was concluded with a commemorative photo of all sportsmen holding a placard saying, `Opening a new era for sports in Korea.'
Reporter Jeon Young-ji sky4us@sportschosun.com
I sincerely thank my respected sports family, distinguished guests inside and outside, and everyone who made this occasion shine. In particular, I would like to express my deep gratitude to all of you for taking difficult steps even though you are busy.
And supporters who give generous support for the Korea Sports Association, sports organizations, city, county, and district sports associations, as well as youth athletes, national athletes, and leaders who always believe in the value of sweat
We sincerely thank various sports officials for joining us in the new start of the Korea Sports Association.
First of all, I would like to share some unfortunate news with you. Currently, wildfires are causing great damage in many places, including Gyeongbuk. Many people have lost their homes and are in pain. On behalf of the Korean Sports Council, I would like to express my sincere condolences, and I sincerely hope that all those affected will recover their daily lives as soon as possible. We will actively consider ways to support the sports community together.
Today, I'm on a new starting line as the president of the Korea Sports Council. I believe it is the first step to start a long journey and the starting point for our sports community to leap together again. To be honest, the sports world is deeply troubled and tested these days due to various conflicts and incidents. But I want to make this crisis an opportunity for change.
The essence of physical education was more brilliant in the midst of a crisis. The power to get back up even if you fall, the belief that you can go further when you're together, not alone, that's the most powerful energy we have.
So I'm going to be the chairman who listens, feels, moves. We will listen to the story of the field more closely, understand it sincerely, and solve it together. I will listen to the vivid voices from the field, such as the playground, gym, conference room, not the reports from the tabletop. Physical education comes to life only when there is sweat, energy goes around when people gather, and real change begins only when there is conversation and empathy. We will make eye contact with athletes, talk with leaders, listen directly to the hardships of sports organizations and city and provincial sports associations, and think together about the reality that the city, county, and district sports associations experience in the region. But it's not enough alone. I'm not alone in this road. The future of real sports will be completed only when the Korean Sports Association, sports organizations, municipal and provincial sports associations, sponsors, sportsmen, and the people are all together.
Our roles are different, but our goals are the same. It's time to work hand in hand toward that goal. We have already overcome countless crises. During the IMF, in the heat of the 2002 World Cup and in the long dark tunnel of the pandemic, athletes did not stop training, leaders remained silent, and physical education did not go out. It is like a lighthouse in the middle of the sea that always encourages hope and courage for the country and its people. Now, I want to add the direction and speed of change on top of that unbroken energy.
We will change all of these in a feasible way, one by one, an environment where athletes can focus only on training, a system where leaders can keep their professionalism and pride, a structure where sports organizations can stand on their own in a sustainable system, a foundation for cities, provinces and cities, counties, and sports organizations to grow by breathing with local communities.
In addition, the Korean Sports Association will take the lead in promoting the power of Korean sports to the world and gathering all the enthusiasm and capabilities of athletes so that Korea can stand at the center of global sports.
We will do our best to help the Korean team perform as much as possible at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the Nagoya-Aichi Summer Asian Games, and the 2027 Chungcheong Summer Universiade 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. In addition, we will work together with Jeonbuk and athletes to actively prepare for the hosting of the 2036 Jeonbuk Summer Olympics so that the event that will remain in Olympic history can be held once again in Korea. We are strongest when we move together. When it is 'together' not alone, we can go further and harder. Based on that belief, I will be with you every moment from today. The Korean Sports Council will not stop. The KOC will play with you until the end.
Our sweat was never in vain. It won't be like that in the future. Now it's time to run again, toward the bigger future that the sweat will create. Trust me, and please be with me. Change has begun now, and we are already at the starting line. We will start the next leap forward of sports in Korea, the journey with you. Thank you.
March 27, 2025
Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korea Sports Council
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
