On Dec 6, Minister YU In Chon participated in the reopening ceremony of the “Olympic Center,” the integrated sports complex

The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO), the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), the Korea Paralympic Committee (KPC), and 61 sports organizations are set to conclude their occupancy at the end of Dec

On December 6 (Wed), Minister YU In Chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) participated in the “Olympic Center Reopening Ceremony” to show support for the fresh beginning of Korean sports organizations and encourage individuals from the sports industry. 

The event drew dignitaries from the sports industry, including CHO Hyun Jae, CEO of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO); LEE Kee Heung, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC); JUNG Jin Owan, President of the Korea Paralympic Committee (KPC); members of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee; presidents of various sports organizations; and medalists from the Seoul 1988 and Paralympic Games.

Constructed in 1986, the “Olympic Center” stands as a sports heritage site, once serving as the headquarters of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee. Following the Olympics, sports organizations such as the KSPO and the KSOC utilized it as a business facility. In a collaborative effort between the MCST and the KSPO, a decision was made to renovate the main building, preserving the historical essence of the Olympic Center, establishing integrated structures for sports organizations located inside and outside the Olympic Park, and linking the new building to secure limited office space. The project, which began in 2015, faced extensions due to a cultural asset survey, and difficulties arose following the initial groundbreaking in 2019, primarily due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. After more than 5 years of construction, the 14-story main building and the 4-story new building reached completion in November 2023.

Korean sports organizations unite within one shared space, “strengthening cooperation and communication with the sports community and devoting themselves to the advancement of sports”

The Olympic Center is now home to 61 sports organizations, including the KSPO, the KSOC, and the KPC, as well as other sports organizations. In alignment with the timelines of major competitions, such as the Korean National Sports Festival and the National Para Games, sports organizations began relocating in mid-November, with the anticipated completion by the end of December.

Minister YU said, “I hope Korea’s representative sports organizations and related institutions will gather together, fostering stronger cooperation as physical distances diminish. Let us communicate as one family, pooling our collective ideas together for the development of sports.”