Kim Jae-youl, president of the International Skating Union (ISU) and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been elected to the IOC Executive Board. President Lee Jae-myung congratulated Kim, calling his election "a great achievement for South Korea."
Kim was elected as an IOC Executive Board member at the 145th IOC Session held at the Main Media Center (MMC) for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy, on Friday (Korea time). He received 84 votes in favor, 10 against, and 6 abstentions out of 100 valid votes, joining newly elected members Ingmar De Vos of Belgium and Neven Ilic of Chile on the Executive Board. Kim is only the second Korean to be elected to the IOC Executive Board, the first in 38 years since the late Kim Un-yong, former IOC Vice President.
Kim, who serves as president of Samsung Global Research, is the husband of Lee Seo-hyun, president of Samsung C&T (028260.KS), and son-in-law of the late Lee Kun-hee, former honorary chairman of Samsung Group. He began his sports administration career as president of the Korea Skating Union in 2011 and has led the development of Korea's winter sports as vice chairman of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Organizing Committee and head of the Korean delegation to the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. After serving as ISU Executive Board member from 2016 to 2022, he became the first non-European to assume the ISU presidency in 2022, significantly expanding his presence in international winter sports.
Unlike IOC members, which number up to 115, Executive Board members hold substantial authority to directly determine major Olympic-related policies. The Executive Board, a standing executive and supervisory body, bears overall responsibility for IOC operations and sets the agenda for the IOC Session. It also oversees approval of internal IOC organizations and regulations as well as financial management. The Executive Board is particularly involved in selecting new IOC members and determining Olympic host cities. The board screens candidates for new IOC membership and recommends host cities, which the Session then ratifies through voting.
The Executive Board currently consists of 15 members, including Chair Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe, four vice chairs, and 10 members. Executive Board members serve four-year terms beginning at the conclusion of the session at which they are elected. Members may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms and may be re-elected after a minimum two-year waiting period.
President Lee congratulated Kim on social media, saying, "This achievement goes beyond personal honor—it holds great significance as South Korea can now play an even more leading role at the center of international sports governance."
Lee added, "The Executive Board member's rich experience and outstanding leadership will serve as a solid foundation for designing and guiding the future of the Olympic movement." He expressed his hope that Kim would "continue to expand international cooperation through sports based on the Olympic values of fairness, transparency, peace, and solidarity." The president also noted, "The government will actively support sports diplomacy and contribute to the international community as a responsible partner."
Meanwhile, Kim Won-soo, former UN Under-Secretary-General, was elected as an IOC Ethics Commission member on the same day. Kim is considered a close associate of former IOC Ethics Commission Chair Ban Ki-moon. He served as UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs during Ban's tenure as UN Secretary-General. The IOC Ethics Commission, established in 1999, is an independent body under the IOC comprising nine members.