Seoul: Bae Dong-hyun, the head of the Korea Para Nordic Skiing Federation, has been chosen as one of the two candidates for the upcoming election to lead the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the world's top para sports organization. Bae will contend against the current president, Andrew Parsons, in the election scheduled for September 27 during the IPC General Assembly in Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Bae is the first South Korean to run for IPC president. He holds prominent positions as the president of Changsung Group and the chairman of both the BDH Paras Foundation and the Changsung Scholarship Foundation. The BDH Paras Foundation oversees a semi-professional para sports club, "BDH Paras," which includes athletes specializing in Nordic skiing and shooting para sport.

In June, the Korea Paralympic Committee unanimously endorsed Bae as the South Korean nominee. The IPC finalized the candidate list after an internal review. Bae's experience includes serving as South Korea's chef de mission at both the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Paralympics and the 2024 Paris Summer Paralympics.

The election for IPC president will be determined by a majority vote from the IPC's 203 member organizations, which include 183 national Paralympic committees, 17 international para sports federations, and three international organizations focused on sports for disabled individuals.

In a candidates booklet published on the IPC's website, Bae emphasized the importance of the IPC acting as a supportive body that empowers its members while encouraging collaboration. Bae stated his commitment to enhancing training conditions, increasing equipment access, and expanding development programs. He also plans to introduce reforms to the classification platform and aims to secure additional funding through increased corporate involvement, creating a sustainable development fund for all members. Bae is dedicated to transparent and inclusive leadership to ensure respect and inclusivity within the IPC.