Seoul: The 2018 Olympic bobsleigh silver medalist Won Yun-jong has been selected as the South Korean candidate for the forthcoming International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes' Commission election.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) announced that Won prevailed over figure skater Cha Jun-hwan to become the sole South Korean candidate. Won's formal application will be submitted by the KSOC on March 14, and the IOC is expected to finalize the list of candidates later in 2025. The election, which involves voting by fellow Olympians, is scheduled to take place during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
Won and Cha were interviewed by KSOC officials, where their English proficiency and other credentials were assessed. Won, who steered South Korea to its first Olympic medal in bobsleigh by securing a silver in the four-man event at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, retired after his third Winter Games in Beijing in 2022. He has since gained experience in sports administration through his roles on athletes' commissions for both the KSOC and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.
Won aims to become the third South Korean Olympian to serve on the Athletes' Commission, following in the footsteps of 2004 Olympic taekwondo champion Moon Dae-sung and 2004 Olympic table tennis gold medalist Ryu Seung-min. The mission of the Athletes' Commission, as outlined by the IOC, is to represent athletes and support their development in both sporting and non-sporting careers.
Members of the Athletes' Commission serve an eight-year term and have the same responsibilities and rights as other IOC members. Candidates must be proficient in English or French, the two official working languages of the IOC. The commission can accommodate up to 23 members, with a maximum of 12 elected by peers and up to 11 appointed by the IOC president.