The award recognizes individuals who help spread the values of gender equality, diversity and inclusion through sport. Winners are selected to represent the world and each continent.
The committee said Kim was honored for continuing efforts after retiring as a player to expand women’s participation in sport, strengthen leadership and promote a safe and fair sports environment.
During her playing career, Kim helped raise South Korea’s international competitiveness in women’s volleyball and broaden public interest in women’s sports. She was named most valuable player at the 2012 London Olympics and competed in three Olympics — London in 2012, Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2020 — with sustained results on the global stage.
After retiring, Kim founded the KYK Foundation in 2024 to more systematically support youth athletes and expand sports participation, the committee said. The foundation runs scholarship and training-support programs for young athletes who struggle to continue due to financial constraints, with a focus on reducing barriers faced by girls and helping them stay in sport.
It also works to widen opportunities for young athletes and support local sports by hosting a nationwide middle school volleyball tournament, providing equipment to school volleyball teams and operating youth clinics, the committee said.
Kim has also taken part in efforts to help women athletes continue their careers and move into leadership roles. Through the broadcast program “Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung,” she has provided coaching and mentoring to women athletes who retired or left their teams and supported transitions into coaching and other sports-related fields, the committee said.
She has also participated in international sports activities, including serving as an ambassador for the International Volleyball Federation and as a promotional ambassador for the World Anti-Doping Agency’s general assembly, emphasizing athlete education, fair competition and safe sports environments, the committee said.
Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min said, “This award to Chairwoman Kim Yeon-koung is a meaningful achievement that shows international recognition of her work to put the values of gender equality and inclusion into practice through sport.” He added, “We plan to continue various efforts so that sport can function as a platform to spread social values.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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