The National Sports Museum, showcasing the history and achievements of South Korean sports, has officially opened.
On October 15, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the Seoul Olympic Memorial National Sports Promotion Foundation, inaugurated the first national sports museum in South Korea at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Approximately 150 attendees, including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Choi Hwi-young, Korea Sports Promotion Foundation Chairman Ha Hyung-joo, and Lee Jae-jung, Chairman of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, were present at the opening ceremony.
The National Sports Museum is designed to systematically collect and preserve sports heritage from both domestic and international sources, utilizing the space for exhibitions, education, and research. The facility spans two underground floors and four above-ground floors, featuring a planning exhibition hall and café on the first floor, permanent exhibition halls on the second and third floors, a rooftop garden on the fourth floor, and storage areas in the basement.
The existing Seoul Olympic Memorial Hall has also been renovated to include a children's museum, a specialized sports library, and educational and experiential spaces. Visitors can engage with the history and value of sports in various ways beyond just viewing exhibitions.
In his speech, Minister Choi remarked, "Opening the National Sports Museum here, after over a decade of preparation, is deeply meaningful, especially with a dedicated children's museum to inspire future sports enthusiasts."
The museum currently houses approximately 70,000 sports-related artifacts, including Seo Yoon-bok's winning medal from the 1947 Boston Marathon, soccer shoes from Korean soccer pioneer Kim Yong-sik, the competition uniform of Korea's first Olympic gold medalist Yang Jeong-mo, and the torch and hoop from the 1988 Seoul Olympics. These items will illustrate the development of Korean sports and significant moments shared with the public.
Chairman Ha stated, "As an Olympic medalist, I know that medals represent not only the athlete's sweat but also the dedication of those who supported them and the encouragement of the public. The National Sports Museum embodies this spirit." He added that the collection includes stories of challenges and sacrifices, not just triumphs.
On October 17, the museum will host a stamp tour for about 200 citizens to explore key exhibits. Additional experiential events, such as 'My Record Card' and 'Iconic Scene Studio,' will also be available for general visitors.
Lee Jae-jung expressed his excitement while touring the exhibition, noting that the items reflect not only the past but also the struggles of athletes. He hopes the museum will become a warm and happy space for citizens and a place to inspire the dreams and futures of youth.
Sports began to establish itself as a leisure culture in South Korea around the 1980s, coinciding with the rise of professional sports and the spread of color television, which increased the popularity of sports broadcasts. Following the successful 1988 Seoul Olympics, the government initiated the Comprehensive Plan for the Promotion of Sports for the Public in 1989, expanding sports facilities and increasing public participation.
The National Sports Museum aims to capture the expanded meaning of sports in everyday life, showcasing not only historical artifacts but also the joy and challenges of sports, fostering communication with future generations.
Minister Choi stated, "The National Sports Museum will become a valuable space for preserving our sports records and heritage at a national level, ensuring their value is passed on to future generations. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will support the museum in becoming a central hub for sharing Korea's sports heritage."
October 15 also marks the 64th Sports Day, established under the National Sports Promotion Act in 1963 and renamed following the enactment of the Sports Basic Act in 2021. The day aims to enhance public awareness of sports and promote its accessibility.
In celebration of Sports Day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with related organizations such as the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation and the Korean Sports Council, will host various events to encourage public participation in sports.
From October 12 to 18, the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation will reward 8,000 members of its 'Tuntun Money' program who complete exercise sessions and participate in quizzes with prizes worth 5,000 won. Additionally, 50,000 participants will receive an extra 1,000 points. The Tuntun Money program allows users to earn points convertible into sports vouchers for exercising over 30 minutes, with a maximum limit of 50,000 points per person.
Over 400 private sports facilities, known as 'National Fitness 100 Partners,' will offer special points to users who participate in fitness assessments from October 12 to 26, along with a chance to win prizes through a lottery.
The awards ceremony for the 'AI-Utilized Sports Activity Short Video Contest,' organized by the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation to promote the positive values of sports, will take place at the Olympic Hall on the same day. The contest, held from July 28 to September 15, received a total of 385 video submissions, with 14 teams selected as winners in both the general and student categories.
The winners will receive awards from the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with cash prizes. The general category winner is Kim Chae-eun, a senior at Kyung Hee University, while the student category winner is the 'Gajigajideul' team from Busan Teresa High School, consisting of teacher Lee Ji-soo and second-year students Kim Hye-won, Moon Song-hyun, Park Hyun-yi, and Lee Yeon-joo.
On October 13-14, the Sports Value Center in Jinju, Gyeongnam, hosted a 'Small but Important Sports Day' event, engaging over 130 students and families from seven local elementary schools in activities like giant ball rolling and baton races. From October 16 to 18, a sports experience festival will be held, expecting participation from over 5,000 citizens, featuring activities such as flag football and mini-golf, along with face painting.
Sports organizations are also preparing programs for the public to experience various sports. The Korea Biathlon Federation will hold a biathlon electronic rifle training session for 300 adults at the Mir Stadium in Yongin on October 24, while the Korea Tennis Association will conduct a family experience class for 50 beginners at the Seogwipo Tennis Center in Jeju on October 25.
The main event celebrating Sports Day is the annual National Sports Festival, with this year's 107th edition taking place in Jeju from October 16 to 22.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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