Kim Jae-yeol, Set for His First Olympics as an IOC Member... Debut Stage Ahead

Asia's First Winter Youth Olympic Games
Passionate Efforts in Preparation and Promotion

"Great Sportsman (Daedanhan Sportsman)."

Foreign figures in the sports world who have observed the actions of Kim Jae-yeol, President of Samsung Global Research and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, reportedly call him this. It is evidence that his passion and hard work for sports, demonstrated on the world stage, are being recognized globally.

Attention from the business and sports communities in Korea is focused on whether Kim can once again leave his mark on the world stage at the '2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games (Gangwon 2024),' which opens on the 19th and closes on the 1st of next month. This event is the first Olympics Kim faces since being elected as an IOC member on October 17 last year. In other words, it is his debut stage as an IOC member.

Kim Jae-yeol, President of Samsung Global Research and Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC)
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Currently handling his schedule in Seoul, Kim is expected to arrive in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on the 19th, when the games begin. Afterwards, he will tour the Gangwon area where the Olympic events are held and lead the overall Olympic operations alongside other IOC members and the organizing committee until the end of the games. Gangwon 2024 is a competition featuring youth national representatives who will dominate future winter sports, and its scale and attention are comparable to the Winter Olympics featuring adult national representatives. Notably, this is the first Winter Youth Olympic Games held in Asia, with about 1,900 athletes from 80 countries participating worldwide. It is the largest scale ever.

Kim is reported to have shown a 'passionate stride' in preparation and promotion of the event until recently. He traveled multiple times between Seoul and Gangneung, a round trip taking six hours by car, attending various events without fail and meeting with IOC officials. Since being appointed as an advisory member of the Gangwon 2024 Organizing Committee on November 27 last year, he has expanded his activities further. On the 16th, he also attended the '2024 Sportspeople Conference' held at the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, where he had a conversation with IOC President Thomas Bach and others.

Kim is the son-in-law of the late Lee Kun-hee, former Chairman of Samsung, and husband of Lee Seo-hyun, Chairwoman of the Samsung Welfare Foundation. On October 17 last year, he became the 12th Korean ever to be elected as an IOC member. IOC members are composed of individuals in personal capacity (up to 70 members), representatives of National Olympic Committees (NOCs), representatives of International Federations (IFs), and athlete members (up to 15 each). Kim was elected as an IF representative. Since June 2022, he has been serving as President of the International Skating Union (ISU). Kim, who was the first non-European to be elected ISU President, attracted attention, and his election as an IOC member just one year into his presidency became another highlight. Typically, it takes more than two years from becoming the head of an international sports organization to becoming an IOC member, but Kim shortened this period.

This is interpreted as a result of recognition of his experience and capabilities in winter sports. Kim served as President of the Korea Skating Union from March 2011 to July 2016, Vice Chairman of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics Organizing Committee from October 2011 to March 2018, Head of the Korean delegation at the Sochi Winter Olympics from October 2013 to February 2014, IOC Coordination Commission member for the Beijing Winter Olympics from February 2016 to February 2022, and ISU Executive Committee member from June 2016 to June 2022. Fluent in English and possessing exceptional presentation skills, he reportedly left a strong impression on international sports figures during important presentations. Kim reportedly developed his affection for winter sports by acting as interpreter and secretary for his father-in-law, the late Chairman Lee Kun-hee, accompanying him during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics bid activities. Kim said, "Gangwon 2024 is a place to meet future winter stars. I hope people will enjoy it with interest."

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