By Kim Young Deok, Min Yea-Ji and Lee Hana
Seoul | Nov. 29, 2017

Cha Bum-Kun, soccer legend and former coach of the Korean national football team, has been named as an official Sports Hero for 2017.

Cha was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul on Nov. 29.

As the first Korean player to play on the Bundesliga stage, Cha became one of the most beloved players in Germany, earning the nickname "Cha Bum."

Cha was named as a Sports Hero for his contributions as a player and coach for the Korean national football team, and for his devotion to improving the sport in Korea.

"This feels more meaningful than when I was chosen as the best Asian footballer of the 20th century. In addition to my first award at age 18, this is an award of which to be proud. I receive it as a milestone in my life and career," said Cha in his acceptance speech.

Sports Heroes of Korea Since 2011, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee has given the title Sports Hero to athletes who have contributed to their sport both on and off the field. Ten sports heroes have been named thus far: long-distance runner Sohn Kee-chung and weightlifter Kim Seong-jip in 2011, long-distance runner Suh Yun-bok in 2013, sports administrator Min Kwan-sik and wrestler Chang Chang-sun in 2014, wrestler Yang Jung-mo, basketball player Park Sinja and sports administrator Kim Un-yong in 2015, figure skater Kim Yuna in 2016 and, finally, footballer Cha Bum-Kun in 2017. The late Sohn Kee-chung, given the first ever Sports Hero title, won a gold medal in the marathon at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics during the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945). Sohn had to compete as a member of the Japanese team, but his victory gave hope to his countrymen during a time of hardship. Decades later, Sohn was given the honor of carrying the Olympic torch into the stadium at the Opening Ceremony for the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics. The late Sohn Kee-chung is first to cross the marathon finish line at the Berlin 1936 Summer Olympics on Aug. 9, 1936. (Yonhap News) Figure skater Kim Yuna was the first Sport Hero named for a winter sport, in 2016. In addition to being an Olympic champion at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, Kim won the grand slam of the ISU World Championships, the ISU Four Continents Championships and the ISU Grand Prix Finals. Kim Yuna poses for a picture after being inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame at the Olympic Parktel in Seoul in November 2016. (Korean Sport & Olympic Committee) The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee receives nominations for Sport Heroes from ordinary citizens, panelists, sport committees and accredited reporters. The list of nominees is then handed over for a second round of deliberation by a special Sports Hall of Fame board. The final list of nominees is surveyed by citizens, and is judged based on their contribution to the field of sports, among other considerations, before being inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame each year.

kyd1991@korea.kr