Seoul: The 2018 Olympic bobsleigh silver medalist Won Yun-jong will pursue membership on the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the national Olympic body said Tuesday. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) announced that Won has entered the race for the IOC Athletes' Commission election, scheduled during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.

According to Yonhap News Agency, figure skater Cha Jun-hwan was the first South Korean athlete to announce his candidacy for the IOC Athletes' Commission. The KSOC will later decide which of the two Olympians will represent South Korea in next year's election. Won, aged 39, was instrumental in leading South Korea to a silver medal in the four-man bobsleigh event at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, marking the country's first Olympic medal in the sport.

Won also participated in the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, where he placed 18th in the four-man race and 19th in the two-man competition. To be eligible for the Athletes' Commission, candidates must have competed in the Olympics immediately before or at the time of their election. Although Won has retired from competition, he meets these criteria.

The Athletes' Commission members serve an eight-year term and have the same rights and responsibilities as other IOC members. The commission can have up to 23 members, with a maximum of 12 elected by their peers and up to 11 appointed by the IOC president. South Korea has previously had two members on the Athletes' Commission: 2004 Olympic taekwondo champion Moon Dae-sung (2008-2016) and 2004 Olympic table tennis gold medalist Ryu Seung-min (2016-2024).

Last year, LPGA Hall of Famer Park In-bee emerged as the sole South Korean candidate after competing against four other Olympians but did not win in the election held during the Paris Summer Olympics.