[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hyowon] Kim Yongbin, former president of the Korea Canoe Federation (age 50, photo), has been elected as the 9th president of the Korea Curling Federation.
According to the Korea Curling Federation, candidate number 2, Kim Yongbin, received the highest number of votes in the election for the 9th president of the Korea Curling Federation held on the 14th at the Olympic Park Velodrome.
President-elect Kim Yongbin plans to faithfully implement his campaign promises, including ▲stabilizing the federation’s finances ▲uniting curling enthusiasts ▲maximizing achievements from the Beijing Olympics ▲expanding curling venues and educational infrastructure ▲globalizing curling by hosting the World Championships ▲and expanding nationwide curling tournaments involving both athletes and amateur players.
Additionally, Kim will make history by consecutively serving as president of federations for a summer sport, ‘canoe,’ and a winter sport, ‘curling.’ This marks the fifth time in history following Park Jinseok (7th president of the Skating Federation in 1959, 11th president of the Korea Basketball Association in 1964), former National Assembly member Lee Byunghee (13th president of the Korea Basketball Association in 1964, 14th president of the Skating Federation in 1970), former Korea University honorary professor Kim Sangkyum (Korea Underwater Finswimming Association from 1968 to 1997, 15th president of the Korea Ski Association in 1997), and Baechanghwan, chairman of Changseong Construction (2nd president of the Korea Biathlon Federation in 2005, 37th president of the Korea Equestrian Federation in 2018).
Notably, except for former chairman Baechanghwan, who resigned from the Korea Equestrian Federation 70 days after assuming the Biathlon Federation presidency due to personal reasons, Kim is the only person in the last 20 years since the 2000s to hold such consecutive presidencies.
Kim Yongbin is the CEO and chairman of the mid-sized construction company Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Construction and the KOSDAQ-listed company Korea Technology.
From 2017 to 2020, he served as the 10th president of the Korea Canoe Federation and gained attention for the historic first gold and bronze medals won by the North-South unified team in the canoe (dragon boat) event at the 18th Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. He has also strengthened his position as a sports figure by serving as a member of the Korea Sports Council’s North-South Sports Exchange Committee.
Kim Yongbin stated, “I will always strive to overcome the severe crisis with unified leadership and to foster new development for the federation,” adding, “Although I am a businessman, I will dedicate the rest of my life as a sports administrator to giving back to society through sports.”
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
