K Parasport's Beautiful Challenge Bae Dong-hyun, Chairman of the Board of Directors, IPC Chairman, Election Disappointing Defeat Parsons Successfully served 3 consecutive terms

Sep 27, 2025

K Parasport's Beautiful Challenge Bae Dong-hyun, Chairman of the Board of Directors, IPC Chairman, Election Disappointing Defeat Parsons Successfully served 3 consecutive terms
photo courtesy of the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled



K Parasport's Beautiful Challenge Bae Dong-hyun, Chairman of the Board of Directors, IPC Chairman, Election Disappointing Defeat Parsons Successfully served 3 consecutive terms
photo courtesy of the Korea Sports Council for the Disabled
Bae Dong-hyun, chairman of the BDH Foundation (42, vice president of Changsung Group), did well in the election for the chairman of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), but unfortunately suffered.

Chairman Bae lost by 41 votes to current Chairman Andrew Parsons (48, 109 votes), who received 68 out of 177 valid votes from 187 IPC member organizations attending the General Assembly in the election of new chairman held during the IPC General Assembly held at Grand Intercontinental Seoul Parnas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the 27th. Parsons, chairman of the IPC, succeeded in serving three consecutive terms.

Ahead of the election, Chairman Bae said that `Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not' and that the slogan `Everyone Belongs' was used. It pledged 'everyone's IPC' in which all players and member states are respected equally and no one is left out. ▶ Establishment of a sustainable development fund and fair and transparent financial execution ▶ Establishment of a member-friendly organizational operation and customized support system ▶ Innovation of a fair and systematic rating system ▶ Establishment of an integrated support system for athletes' sustainable lives after retirement ▶ Establishment of a support system for sports equipment for the disabled ▶ Expand strategic global partnerships and establish international sports solidarity ▶ Introduction of an international standard accounting system and implementation of responsible governance through transparent management disclosure.




K Parasport's Beautiful Challenge Bae Dong-hyun, Chairman of the Board of Directors, IPC Chairman, Election Disappointing Defeat Parsons Successfully served 3 consecutive terms
IPC Chairman Andrew Parsons is conducting an exploration at a welcoming dinner hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the 22nd.Photo = Heo Man-jin, Officer of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
However, the stronghold and active premium of Parsons, who has been serving consecutive terms for eight years since his election in 2017, played a role. The term of office of the IPC chairman is possible from the election of the General Assembly to four years and three consecutive terms. First Chairman Robert Stadward (Canada, 1989-2001) and second Chairman Philip Craven (UK, 2001-2017) all served for more than three consecutive terms. Candidate Bae Dong-hyun's challenge at the IPC Seoul General Assembly was the first time in a long time that the IPC was shining a bright light and a new wind. An official at the IPC General Assembly said, `It means a lot just that a new candidate for reform came out in the election of the IPC chairman, which seemed to be standing.' Member states will agonize fiercely until the end over Parsons' stable third term and fresh Asian leaders' IPC reform." However, the choice of more than half of the IPC member states was Parsons, the current chairman. He chose the existing stable path rather than reform or change.

Chairman Bae is a representative sports leader in his 40s who has been 'working hard' as the BDH Foundation, the Chairman of the Changsung Scholarship Foundation, the Vice Chairman of the Changsung Group, and the Chairman of the Korean Nordic Ski Federation for the Disabled. Among the disabled national team players, it is known as 'Our general manager' He led Team Korea's propaganda with sincere and touching support by serving as the head of the Korean national team at the 2018 Pyeongchang Paralympic Games and the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. The video of him singing a big bow while singing all the names of the national teams after his best performance at the PyeongChang Paralympics became a big topic. After his first relationship with sports for the disabled in 2012, he established the Korean Association of Biathlon for the Disabled (now the Nordic Ski Federation for the Disabled) and established the 'Changseong Construction' Nordic Ski Team in 2015 to lead the history of the first Winter Paralympic gold medal in Pyeongchang, and established the 'BDH Paras" shooting team ahead of the Paris Paralympics last year, winning three gold medals in shooting alone. In addition, the BDH Foundation, established in 2023, has consistently supported training equipment, competitions, and educational programs on five continents, including Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and has continued ODA projects that lead the development of sports for the disabled at home and abroad. In recognition of his contribution to the Paralympic movement and the development of sports for the disabled, he was awarded the 2025 Asian Paralympic Committee 'Asian Order' last month.

Despite the defeat, Chairman Bae Dong-hyun's challenge at the 'Bangbang' IPC Seoul General Assembly was a new wind for the world's disabled sports community. Until just before the election, KPC officials won 60 percent of the vote, predicting a close advantage. At the general meeting held in Seoul, he did his best until the last minute, despite extreme restrictions on intensive checks by current chairman Parsons and vested executives, events, and media activities amid a war of nerves.




Reporter Jeon Young-ji sky4us@sportschosun.com



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.