A Complete History of Korean Sports in One Place! National Sports Museum to Hold Grand Opening Ceremony on the 15th

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The "National Sports Museum," a space dedicated to preserving and sharing the history and glorious moments of Korean sports with future generations, finally opened its doors on the 15th. The National Sports Museum is a hub for sports heritage, established to utilize related assets in exhibitions, education, and research to widely disseminate the history and value of sports.

The main ceremony, held at the National Sports Center in Bangi-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, began with a strong start featuring "Voices of the People," which included a video congratulatory message from National Assembly member Jin Jong-oh who could not attend the event, and a screening of iconic moments in Korean sports.

Hosted by announcer Kim Wan-tae, the main ceremony proceeded with an abbreviated national anthem ritual, followed by screenings on the progress of the National Sports Museum's establishment and an opening commemorative video. Subsequently, Ha Hyeong-ju, Lee (President) of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, delivered a commemorative address outlining the significance of the National Sports Museum's launch and its future operational direction.

Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, who gave a congratulatory speech, stated, "Today also happens to be 'Sports Day,' which adds even deeper meaning to the opening." She added, "Our people maintained their national identity through sports even when our country was taken away, and during periods of national transition, we successfully hosted events such as the 1988 Olympics and Paralympics, showcasing our capabilities to the world. It is a meaningful achievement to open the National Sports Museum here, where the Olympics were held, after more than 10 years of preparation."

She continued, "Just as songs or movies we enjoyed long ago can take us back to that era, the sports artifacts here will remind us of the excitement of that day, the people who cheered, and ourselves from that time." She emphasized, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will actively support the National Sports Museum in becoming a central space for preserving our sports records and heritage at the national level and passing them on to the next generation." Additionally, she expressed special welcome for the establishment of a children's museum for young aspiring athletes.

Congratulatory speeches followed from key figures including Nam In-soon, Vice Speaker of the National Assembly; Lee Jae-jeong, Chair of the National Assembly Committee on Culture, Sports and Tourism; Jin Sun-mi, National Assembly member; and Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, as they united in celebrating the museum's opening.

The event concluded with an opening commemorative performance featuring key guests including the Minister and artifact Gi Jeung-ja (CEO)s. Participants expressed their shared intention to inherit Korea's sports cultural heritage and leap forward into the future, bringing the main ceremony to a successful close with the performance.

The museum, built from two basement levels to four floors above ground, consists of a special exhibition hall on the first floor, permanent exhibition halls on the second and third floors, a rooftop garden on the fourth floor, and storage facilities in basements one and two. It currently collects and holds approximately 70,000 sports-related items. Key exhibits include the gold medal won by athlete Suh Yun-bok at the 1947 Boston Marathon, the soccer shoes of Kim Yong-sik, a pioneer of Korean soccer, the competition uniform of Yang Jeong-mo, Korea's first Olympic gold medalist, and the torch and rolling ball from the opening ceremony of the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Meanwhile, prior to the main ceremony, key guests participated in a commemorative tree planting and photo session, followed by a pre-event tour of the museum's main facilities, including the theme pavilion, archive room, and library. The opening ceremony was held in a free-standing format without designated seating.

To mark its opening, the museum will host a stamp tour on the 17th where approximately 200 citizens will search for key exhibits to complete missions. It also plans to operate various experiential events for general visitors, such as "My Record Card" and "Iconic Moment Studio."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original