First International Folk Sports Olympics planned for 2030

Gwangju eyed as host city to mark 50th anniversary of May 18 pro-democracy uprising

Domestic hosting procedures to be pursued through 2028

The International Folk Sports Committee appointed former National Assembly member Kim Jae-hong as planning advisory committee chairman on Wednesday, followed by an inauguration ceremony. Pictured from left: Kang Shin-bok, IFC founding committee chairman (second from left); Yang Seung-jo, preparatory committee chairman for the first International Folk Sports Olympics (fourth from left); Kim Jae-hong, IFC planning advisory committee chairman (sixth from left); Moon Byung-ho, IFC secretary-general; and Son Hyun, IFO secretary-general (far right). [IFC]
The International Folk Sports Committee appointed former National Assembly member Kim Jae-hong as planning advisory committee chairman on Wednesday, followed by an inauguration ceremony. Pictured from left: Kang Shin-bok, IFC founding committee chairman (second from left); Yang Seung-jo, preparatory committee chairman for the first International Folk Sports Olympics (fourth from left); Kim Jae-hong, IFC planning advisory committee chairman (sixth from left); Moon Byung-ho, IFC secretary-general; and Son Hyun, IFO secretary-general (far right). [IFC]

The International Folk Sports Committee (IFC) is pushing to host the inaugural International Folk Sports Olympics in 2030, with Gwangju emerging as the leading candidate city as it marks the 50th anniversary of the May 18 pro-democracy uprising.

The IFC said Monday it appointed former National Assembly member Kim Jae-hong as planning advisory committee chairman and held an inauguration ceremony on Wednesday. Kim previously served as president of Seoul Digital University and currently chairs the ESG Practice Citizens' Alliance.

The ceremony was attended by IFC Founding Committee Chairman Kang Shin-bok, Yang Seung-jo — former South Chungcheong Province governor and preparatory committee chairman for the first International Folk Sports Olympics — IFC Secretary-General Moon Byung-ho, and IFO preparatory committee Secretary-General Son Yun.

At a planning advisory committee meeting held after the inauguration, members agreed to stage the first International Folk Sports Olympics in 2030. The committee plans to work with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and a domestic host city to complete the necessary preparations for the international event by the end of November 2028.

Gwangju is under consideration as the host city for the inaugural games, given that 2030 will mark the 50th anniversary of the May 18 pro-democracy uprising.

"We will give serious consideration to Gwangju as the host city, in line with the 50th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju People's Uprising in 2030," Kim said. "The spirit of May 18 — when the people rose up to defend democracy and justice — aligns perfectly with the values of folk sports, making Gwangju the ideal host city."

The committee is exploring a competition format built around traditional games and lifestyle sports from various countries. Domestic candidates include the hoop-rolling that featured in the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics, as well as tug-of-war and yutnori, a traditional Korean board game. Lifestyle sports not on the official Olympic program — such as jump rope and jokgu, a Korean kick-volleyball game — are also expected to be considered.

The committee plans to combine Korea's traditional folk games with competitive sport to promote them internationally, while also working to incorporate traditional events from other countries into future editions of the games.

Kim worked as a journalist and university professor before serving as a member of the 17th National Assembly representing the Uri Party. He led his party's side on the National Assembly's Culture and Tourism Committee and chaired its legislation review subcommittee, and previously held positions including deputy political editor and editorial writer at the Dong-A Ilbo, and dean of the graduate school of political science at Kyonggi University.

Meanwhile, IFC Founding Committee Chairman Kang said he had sent a letter to Cheong Wa Dae requesting that President Lee Jae Myung be named honorary chairman of the International Folk Sports Committee.


pooh@heraldcorp.com