Jung Mong-won Publishes Essay Chronicling 30 Years of Passion for Korean Ice Hockey
From Founding HL Anyang to the PyeongChang Olympics:
A Journey of Challenges, Triumphs, and Dedication
Jung Mong-won, chairman of HL Group known as an "ice hockey enthusiast," has published an essay titled "Korea Also Plays Ice Hockey," which chronicles his 30-year life on the ice.
According to HL Group on the 27th, Chairman Jung has left a significant mark as a sportsman by dedicating 30 years to Korean ice hockey, starting with the founding of "HL Anyang" in 1994. Despite the harsh environment marked by public indifference and a weak foundation, he led the growth and development of Korean ice hockey with selfless passion and indomitable will.
Essay by Chung Mong-won, Chairman of HL Group, "Korea Also Plays Ice Hockey" Book Cover (Provided by HL Group)
HL Anyang is Asia's top prestigious club, having won the championship eight times in the Asia League Ice Hockey, a Korea-Japan joint league now in its 22nd year. Even through challenges such as the 1997 IMF financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, it has maintained the legacy of Korean ice hockey.
During his tenure as president of the Korea Ice Hockey Association, Chairman Jung brought Korean ice hockey, which had remained on the periphery, into the center of the international stage. He led both the men's and women's national ice hockey teams to qualify for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and played a pivotal role in the creation of the internationally acclaimed North-South unified women's ice hockey team at the PyeongChang Olympics.
In recognition of his dedication to Korean ice hockey, Chairman Jung was the first Korean to be inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) Hall of Fame in February 2020. Although the ceremony was postponed for two years due to COVID-19, he delivered an acceptance speech titled "Ice Hockey and Life" at the induction ceremony held in Tampere, Finland, in May 2022.
"Korea Also Plays Ice Hockey" contains not only moments of glory but also memories of failure and frustration, and the arduous journey of overcoming trials to achieve success, faithfully capturing the joys and sorrows of Chairman Jung's 30 years on the ice.
Chairman Jung explains that the motivation for writing the book was to gain the most important public support and encouragement for the development of ice hockey. By sharing his past, he hopes to convey the excitement, fun, and charm of ice hockey to many people, evoke empathy, and secure even one more fan, which he stated as the purpose of publication.
Chairman Jung said, "The reason Korean ice hockey could survive in difficult circumstances was thanks to the fans," adding, "I published this book with gratitude to those who have supported our ice hockey and with the hope that it will help increase even one new fan interested in ice hockey."
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