Olympic table tennis champion Ryu Seung-min gives an acceptance speech after winning the election for president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee at the Olympic Hall inside Olympic Park in Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap
Newly elected as head of the national Olympic committee Tuesday, Olympic table tennis champion Ryu Seung-min said he will bring about positive changes for the organization in turmoil.
Ryu, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, upset the incumbent leader Lee Kee-heung in the election for president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC). Ryu earned 417 votes to hold off Lee, who was going for his third term, by 38 votes.
"I'd like to thank all the sportspeople who've been by my side on this journey," Ryu said after his victory at the Olympic Hall inside Olympic Park in Seoul. "They have shown me desire for change, and I will give my absolute best to make sure I can reward them for their faith."
The election featured a record number of candidates (six) and eligible voters (2,244), though only 1,209 voters cast their ballots Tuesday. While Lee had been considered a favorite, especially after Ryu and other rivals had failed to unify their candidacies, Ryu still pulled off the surprising victory.
Ryu, who served as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from 2016 to 2024, said he wasn't that elated with the win, knowing how much work lies ahead of him.
Lee was suspended by the sports ministry in November last year, amid allegations of misuse of official funds and illegal hiring practices, among others. The KSOC's labor union, with more than 80 percent of the KSOC workforce as members, officially demanded Lee not run in the election late last year.
Ryu said his victory indicated to him just how much people in sports wanted to have fresh leadership.
"That puts extra pressure on my shoulders," Ryu added. "And there are so many pressing issues to address. And I know how hard I have to work to help our sportspeople realize their dreams and wishes."
Ryu said he felt his sincerity during his campaign might have done the trick and swayed voters his way.
"I've had a lot of people offer to help me because they saw how sincere I was about this opportunity. They worked with a pure heart," Ryu said. "To have such great camaraderie with many different people makes me feel proud as a sportsman. I want to keep working hard with a sense of responsibility for these people."
With the IOC, Ryu worked on the Athletes' Commission, whose members have an eight-year term. Whether he will go for full-fledged membership in his capacity as head of the national Olympic committee, Ryu said, "I haven't thought about that yet. The election is March next year but I will give it thought if an opportunity presents itself."
On Lee's watch, the KSOC and the sports ministry often didn't see eye to eye. Lee's hostility toward the ministry likely contributed to the ministry's effort to disrupt his bid for the third term with its suspension, which Lee tried to challenge in court.
Ryu said he will be open to dialogue with the ministry.
"I've never antagonized anyone, and I think things will work out well," Ryu said. "We have to solve some issues quickly, and if we can do so through dialogue with the government, then it'll be that much better." (Yonhap)