The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that on September 17, Daehyun Kim, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, visited the construction sites of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the Korea Paralympic Committee, and the National Sports Museum to encourage staff and listen to current issues in the sports sector.
Vice Minister Kim first visited the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee to encourage the staff and review the preparations for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, including support for national team training. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee stated that it plans to enhance support for the national team’s performance, expand support for training equipment for winter sports, and make every effort to provide expert psychological counseling, medical staff support, and operate local meal support centers.
In response, Vice Minister Kim said, "I hope that the sweat and effort of our winter sports athletes and coaches will bear fruit at next year's Milan Olympics," adding, "The Ministry will increase training expenses so that athletes can fully focus on their training, and will actively support facility maintenance for the Taereung International Skating Rink, indoor ice rinks, and other facilities in preparation for the Winter Olympics." He also requested, "Given the recent frequent incidents of violence in the sports sector, I ask the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee to make special efforts to ensure that athletes take the lead in eradicating violence and maintain their dignity."
Daehyun Kim, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism [Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism]
Next, Vice Minister Kim visited the Korea Paralympic Committee to inspect preparations for the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) General Assembly, which will be held in Seoul from September 22 to 28. He also listened to updates on support for the participation and training of national teams ahead of major international competitions, including the 2025 Tokyo Deaflympics in November, the 2025 Dubai Asian Youth Para Games in December, and the 2026 Milan Winter Paralympics in March next year.
Vice Minister Kim emphasized, "As the IPC General Assembly, the largest international conference in the field of sports for people with disabilities, will be held in Korea, I hope you will thoroughly prepare to strengthen our country's international sports leadership and further expand exchange and cooperation among participating countries." He added, "The government will spare no effort to support athletes so that they can perform at their best in international competitions."
Vice Minister Kim also visited the exhibition construction site of the National Sports Museum, which is being built within Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to check the progress and inspect facility safety management. The National Sports Museum is a specialized national sports museum aiming to comprehensively showcase the history of Korean sports and enable the public and future generations to share the value of sports, with the goal of opening in 2026.
The Ministry stated that it plans to focus on enhancing the quality of exhibition content, expanding visitor convenience facilities, and collecting key artifacts during the remaining period before the opening, in order to ensure the successful opening of the National Sports Museum in 2026.
Vice Minister Kim said, "Sports are a valuable cultural asset that gives people inspiration and pride," and requested, "Please do your utmost to ensure that the National Sports Museum becomes a space that showcases Korea's achievements and sportsmanship built up through the Olympics and international sports, and a place where everyone can experience and learn the value of sports."
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