*This content was translated by AI.
The Korea National Sport Council (President Yoo Seung-min) selected a total of three individuals—Park Ju-bong (badminton), the late Choi Dong-won (baseball), and Hwang Young-jo (marathon)—as the final candidates for 2026 Korea Sports Heroes.
The Korea National Sport Council announced on the 1st that it selected Park Ju-bong, the late Choi Dong-won, and Hwang Young-jo as the final candidates after completing the selection procedures, including nominations and reviews of this year's Sports Heroes candidates.
It further added that a public notice will be issued from September 1 to 7 via the Korea National Sport Council and the Hall of Fame for Korea Sports Heroes websites.
Korea Sports Heroes are athletes who have brought honor to the nation through outstanding achievements in the sports world or contributed to the development of Korean sports, serving as role models for fellow athletes and young people as well as active players, earning the respect of the public. The Korea National Sport Council selects and inducts Korea Sports Heroes annually through a prescribed procedure.
Park Ju-bong won the gold medal in men's doubles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the silver medal in mixed doubles at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. He left behind world-class achievements, including five consecutive titles at the BWF World Championships and nine wins at the All England Open. After retirement, he contributed to the development of badminton by serving as a coach for domestic and international national teams.
The late Choi Dong-won was a representative pitcher in Korean baseball, recording 103 career wins, 1,019 strikeouts, and an ERA of 2.46 in professional baseball. Notably, he led the Lotte Giants to their first-ever championship in club history by winning four games in the 1984 Korea Series. As a national team player, he also contributed to victories in the 1977 Intercontinental Cup and the 1982 World Baseball Championship.
Hwang Young-jo won the gold medal in the marathon at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, becoming the first Korean to win Olympic marathon gold since Son Ki-jung 56 years later. He also secured gold medals at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and the 1991 Sheffield Universiade. After retirement, he has worked as a coach, dedicating himself to training national team athletes and nurturing future generations.
Details on the final candidate announcement and each candidate's major achievements can be confirmed on the Korea National Sport Council and Hall of Fame for Korea Sports Heroes websites. If any false information is found in the candidates' achievement records or if there are grounds for disqualification, relevant details may be submitted by the 7th according to the methods outlined in the public notice.
Following the announcement, a national opinion poll on the three final candidates will be conducted from September 14 to October 22. Based on evaluations including the results of this national opinion poll, the Sports Heroes Selection Committee plans to finalize the 2026 Korea Sports Heroes. The selected individual(s) will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for Korea Sports Heroes.
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*This content was translated by AI.
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