[Chairman Lee Kun-hee Passes Away] Lee Kun-hee, a Great Star in the Development of Korean Sports

Chairman Lee Kun-hee at the moment of the 2011 Pyeongchang Olympic announcement (Photo by Samsung)

[Asia Economy Reporter Changhwan Lee] With the passing of Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee on the 25th, his efforts to advance Korean sports have also come into the spotlight.

Chairman Lee, who was active as a wrestling athlete during high school, began his formal involvement in the sports world in 1982 when he took on the role of president of the Korea Amateur Wrestling Association. The following year, he contributed significantly to the development of wrestling in Korea by building and donating a dedicated wrestling gymnasium in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

After being elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in July 1996, Chairman Lee began to enhance Korea's influence on the global sports stage in earnest.

As an IOC member, he recognized sports as an important catalyst contributing to international exchange and world peace, and from 1997, he supported the development of global sports by acting as a TOP sponsor for the Olympics.

In particular, Chairman Lee consistently engaged in sports diplomacy to secure the hosting of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, playing a major role in Pyeongchang being selected as the first Asian host city for the Winter Olympics at the IOC General Assembly held in Durban, South Africa, in 2011.

1996 IOC Member Oath (Photo by Samsung)

Starting in 2009, Chairman Lee Kun-hee actively pursued the bid for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, traveling abroad for 170 days over a year and a half to meet with IOC members. During this period, the distance Chairman Lee traveled around the world for the Pyeongchang bid was more than five times the circumference of the Earth.

There were various anecdotes related to Chairman Lee’s efforts to secure the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. When an IOC member who had a dinner appointment with him was delayed by another schedule and wanted to cancel, he waited for an hour and a half to meet. It is also reported that he never forgot to place napkins engraved with the names of the individuals at the dining table during meals with IOC members, showing his meticulous consideration.

When Pyeongchang was decided as the host city for the 2018 Winter Olympics at the IOC General Assembly held in Durban on July 7, 2011, Chairman Lee’s eyes welled up with tears. It is known that this was the first time he showed tears in public.