The Kyobo Life Cup Dream Tree Sports Competition:
41 Years as a Private Incubator for Youth Sports
More Than 155,000 Participants,
Over 500 National Athletes and 200 Medals Produced
Shin Changjae, CEO and Chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance, has been awarded a plaque of appreciation by the Korean Sports Council in recognition of his contributions to the development of youth sports in Korea.
According to Kyobo Life Insurance on August 27, Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sports Council, met with Chairman Shin at the Kyobo Life Insurance headquarters in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, on the 25th to present the plaque. President Yoo stated, "Over the past four years, about 2,000 school sports teams have been disbanded, making the environment for youth sports increasingly challenging. I am deeply grateful to Kyobo Life Insurance for providing a stage for dreams and challenges to children for more than 40 years."
Shin Changjae, CEO and Chairman of Kyobo Life Insurance (right), and Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sports Council, are taking a commemorative photo after the appreciation plaque presentation ceremony at Kyobo Life Insurance headquarters in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on the 25th. Kyobo Life Insurance
President Yoo also said, "Thanks to the Kyobo Life Cup Dream Tree Sports Competition, which has consistently supported young athletes every year, many participants have grown to become national team members and medalists, and they, in turn, continue to serve as role models for their juniors. As someone involved in sports, I cannot help but feel grateful to Kyobo Life Insurance."
He added, "I myself won the Kyobo Life Cup in 1994. It is especially meaningful that a private company, not the government, has steadfastly sponsored this competition for decades, which is not an easy feat."
The plaque of appreciation contains a message recognizing Kyobo Life Insurance for continuously hosting and supporting the 'Kyobo Life Cup Dream Tree Sports Competition' since 1985, thereby expanding the base of grassroots sports and nurturing national athletes, contributing to the advancement of Korean sports.
Chairman Shin explained, "The Kyobo Life Cup originated from our founding philosophy of 'education for national prosperity,' which means protecting the nation by nurturing talent through education. At the time of Kyobo Life Insurance's founding, our company name was Korea Educational Insurance, and our first product was also an educational insurance policy." He added, "In that context, organizing sports competitions for elementary school students has also been part of our educational mission."
The Kyobo Life Cup Dream Tree Sports Competition, launched in 1985, is the only nationwide comprehensive youth sports event organized by a private company in Korea. This year marks its 41st edition. To date, more than 155,000 participants have taken part, with over 500 of them going on to become national athletes. The number of medals won at international events such as the Olympics and Asian Games has reached around 200.
The reason Kyobo Life Insurance has devoted itself to supporting grassroots sports for 41 years lies in the founding philosophy of Shin Yongho, who emphasized nurturing talent. Founder Shin established the world's first educational insurance and Kyobo Book Centre with the ideals of 'promoting national education' and 'building national capital.' The Dream Tree Sports Competition was also initiated as a concrete practice of the belief that 'education is the future of the nation.'
In addition to supporting grassroots sports through the competition, Kyobo Life Insurance has been operating the 'Kyobo Sports Dream Tree Scholarship Program' since 2019, providing promising young athletes with a stable foundation for growth. Every year, selected scholarship recipients receive financial support, and those who achieve results at international competitions receive additional assistance, helping to foster talent and brighten the future of Korean sports.
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