On March 11 (Mon), Minister YU In Chon of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) appointed former National Assembly Speaker KANG Chang Hee as the chairman of the “The 2027 FISU Summer World University Games (Chungcheong 2027)” Organizing Committee. The appointment ceremony took place at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul, where a certificate of appointment was presented to him.

“Chungcheong 2027” is slated to take place from August 1 to 12, 2027, across four provinces in the Chungcheong region, including Daejeon, Sejong, North Chungcheong, and South Chungcheong province. It is anticipated to draw over 15,000 university student athletes from more than 150 countries to compete in 18 different sports. Previously, the “Chungcheong 2027” Organizing Committee (the Organizing Committee) was jointly held by the governors of these four provinces. However, in a general meeting held in December of the previous year, the committee amended its articles of association to transit to a single-chairperson leadership model. Subsequently, in February of this year, the four provinces nominated KANG Chang Hee, who was recommended by the four provinces, as the new chairperson.

Performing the role of Chairperson, overseeing internal and external communications and organization of the event

 “Chungcheong 2027”, a Sports Festival for global university students to enjoy K-Culture

KANG Chang Hee, a distinguished figure with a six-term tenure as a National Assembly member from Chungcheong Province, has held significant positions, including being the first Minister of Science and Technology[1] and the inaugural Speaker of the 19th National Assembly. Following his political career, KANG has continued to contribute to various sectors, notably as a visiting professor at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and as chairperson of the Woonkyung Foundation.

Upon his appointment, Minister YU In Chon praised KANG’s inauguration, noting, “With his extensive experience and seniority, Chairperson KANG is the ideal leader to guide the Organizing Committee in preparing for the Games while also enhancing both internal and external communication efforts to ensure the event’s success. I am hopeful that he will transform Chungcheong 2027 into a sports festival that allows participants to both learn and enjoy K-Culture.”

Chairman KANG Chang Hee, expressing his commitment, stated, “We will leverage the collective strengths of the National Assembly, government ministries, and local governments to lead Chungcheong 2027 to success and seize this opportunity to foster unity and community integration within the Chungcheong region.”