International Skating Union President Kim Jae-youl, now a member of the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is shown on Feb. 4 at the IOC session in Milan. (Yonhap News)
By Yoo Yeon Gyeong
International Skating Union (ISU) President Kim Jae-youl has been added to the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
As the sole Korean member of the IOC, Kim on Feb. 4 was elected at the IOC session in Milan with an overwhelming 84 out of 94 valid votes. He is just the second Korean to gain the position since IOC Vice President Kim Un-Yong.
President Kim, the sole Korean IOC member, was elected to the Executive Board at the 145th IOC Session held in Milan, Italy, on the 4th. He received overwhelming support, receiving 84 of 94 valid votes.
He is only the second Korean to gain the position after the late former IOC Vice President Kim Un Yong.
The board is part of the IOC Executive Committee, which oversees the selection process for an Olympic host city and makes key decisions and policies.
As the IOC's highest decision-making body, the board comprises the IOC president, four vice presidents and 10 members. Board members have far more influence than the 115 on the board of trustees.
Kim Jae-youl will serve a four-year term and can earn another afterward.
As the son-in-law of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, he entered the sports world through ice skating. While president of Cheil Industries in 2011, he also headed the Korea Skating Union.
He was later vice chairman of the organizing committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, vice president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, and served as a member of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and ISU executive board. In 2022, he became the first non-European to be elected ISU chief.
President Lee Jae Myung on his Facebook page congratulated Kim on his election, saying, "This is great news ahead of the opening of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics."
"More than just individual glory, this immensely significant milestone allows the Republic of Korea to exercise greater leadership at the center of global sports governance."
dusrud21@korea.kr