Former Korea Diplomatic Association Chairman Jeon Sang-jin Passes Away, Known for 'Seoul Olympic Hosting Diplomacy'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Jeon Sang-jin, former chairman of the Korea Foreign Affairs Association who contributed to the successful bid for the 1988 Seoul Olympics, passed away from a chronic illness at Bundang CHA Hospital at 9:58 a.m. on the 9th. He was 93 years old.

Born in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, and raised in Yanggu, the late Mr. Jeon passed the first high-level diplomatic examination (Foreign Service Exam) in 1950 while studying Political Science and Diplomacy at Yonsei University. From November 1950, he served as a diplomat, holding positions such as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister to the United States, and Ambassador to Cameroon, Peru, Malaysia, and the United Nations (1979).

He later engaged in activities with the Korean Sports Council. Mr. Jeon discovered documents prepared to apply for the Olympic bid during President Park Chung-hee’s administration and reported them to the former president, subsequently dedicating himself to the bidding process.

He served as the representative of the Seoul bid delegation for the 10th Asian Games at the Asian Games Federation General Assembly held in New Delhi, India.

From the establishment to the dissolution of the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee, he was the Deputy Secretary-General in charge of international relations, and after the Games, he was involved in the closing work as the head of the committee’s liquidation team.

He served as chairman and advisor of the Korea Foreign Affairs Association from 1992 to 1996 and was a director of the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation from 1995.

The funeral is being held at Seoul Asan Medical Center Funeral Hall, Room 31. The funeral procession will take place at 9 a.m. on the 11th. The burial site is Shinsaege Park.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.