Legendary Korean baseball player Choi Dong-won has been named the 2026 Sports Hero of Korea.
The Korean Sports Council announced on November 4 that the decision was made following the fifth Sports Hero Selection Committee meeting held on October 27, where three final candidates—Park Joo-bong, Choi Dong-won, and Hwang Young-jo—were evaluated.
The Sports Hero of Korea program recognizes athletes who have made significant contributions to the advancement of Korean sports and serve as role models for youth and current athletes. The council selects candidates through a recommendation and review process, considering achievements and public support before making a final decision.
Past Sports Heroes include: 2011's late Son Ki-jung (athletics) and late Kim Seong-jip (weightlifting); 2013's late Seo Yun-bok (athletics); 2014's late Min Kwan-sik (sports administration) and late Jang Chang-seon (wrestling); 2015's Yang Jeong-mo (wrestling), Park Shin-ja (basketball), and late Kim Un-yong (sports administration); 2016's Kim Yuna (figure skating); 2017's Cha Bum-kun (soccer); 2018's late Kim Il (professional wrestling) and Kim Jin-ho (archery); 2019's Um Hong-gil (mountaineering); 2020's late Jo O-ryun (swimming); 2021's late Kim Hong-bin (mountaineering); 2022's Lee Bong-ju (athletics); 2023's late Nam Seung-ryong (athletics); and 2024's Ha Hyung-joo (judo), totaling 18 individuals.
Choi Dong-won is the first baseball player to be honored and the 19th overall Sports Hero. He is the third athlete from a team sport, following Park Shin-ja and Cha Bum-kun.
In the 1984 Korean Series, Choi secured four wins on his own, leading the Lotte Giants to their first championship. He also contributed to the national team, helping secure victories at the 1977 Intercontinental Cup and the 1982 World Baseball Championship, significantly advancing Korean baseball on both domestic and international stages.
Over his eight-season professional career, Choi appeared in 248 games, achieving 103 wins, 26 saves, 1,019 strikeouts, and an earned run average of 2.46. After retiring, he continued to support Korean baseball as a coach, commentator, KBO game operations committee member, and national team performance analyst.
Yoo Seung-min, president of the Korean Sports Council, stated, "The late Choi Dong-won is a legendary player who left a significant mark on the history of Korean baseball with his indomitable spirit and challenge. I hope this recognition shines a light on his achievements and spirit, serving as an inspiration for future generations of athletes."
The council plans to hold a ceremony in December to honor Choi's contributions and achievements.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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