The ministry said on the 7th it has created a “Global Sports Leadership Program” and will recruit its first class of trainees from the 8th through the 30th.
The initiative was designed to expand South Korea’s influence in international sports in line with its status as a leading athletic nation. The ministry said it plans to strategically develop senior talent in the field, citing the recent election of former national team bobsledder Won Yun-jong to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission as momentum for the effort. Hankuk University of Foreign Studies was selected through an open competition to run the program.
The new course targets future senior officials at major international bodies, including the IOC, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and international federations. The program will run for six months starting in June, combining overseas training with a four-stage curriculum: foundation, specialization, application and feedback. The foundation stage in June covers the Olympic Movement and international sports values. The specialization stage, from June to November, provides advanced training in sports organizations and industry, bidding to host events and administrative topics including artificial intelligence. The application stage includes simulated meetings and assignments, followed by a final evaluation and career planning in the feedback stage.
A key component is overseas training in Lausanne, Switzerland, described as a hub of international sports. Trainees will visit the IOC headquarters as well as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), World Archery (WA) and the International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS). The ministry said participants will complete joint projects on site and meet senior officials to build practical skills and expertise.
The program also includes close support to strengthen global competencies, including language training. It will offer intensive English courses by level and a second-language French track, along with practical exercises such as mock international meetings, policy presentations and report writing. All language courses will be operated through the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Language Education and Evaluation Center. Monthly one-on-one guidance with foreign instructors will also be provided.
Applicants include sports administrators and athletes seeking senior posts in international sports organizations, as well as international referees and people from government and business. Evaluations will focus on sports-related experience and job fit. The ministry said it will give preference to former athletes, noting that about 40% of current IOC members are Olympians. It plans to fully cover tuition for Olympic and world championship medalists and provide half tuition support for Asian Games medalists.
Applications will be accepted through the official website from the 8th through the 30th. Successful candidates will begin the program with an entrance ceremony on June 1.
A ministry official said South Korea needs sports diplomacy capabilities that match the growing presence of its athletes on the international stage. “Through this program, we will systematically develop talent capable of making real decisions within international sports organizations and continue to produce international sports leaders like IOC Athletes’ Commission member Won Yun-jong, in a second and third generation,” the official said.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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