Korea's Kim Jae-youl re-elected as head of top global skating body

Korean sports administrator Kim Jae-youl was re-elected as head of the world's skating governing body Friday.

Kim earned his second term as president of the International Skating Union (ISU) at the ISU Congress in Tenerife, Spain. He ran unopposed in the election.

Kim was first elected to the top ISU post in 2022, becoming the first non-European leader of the organization in its 130-year history.

Kim is largely credited with implementing successful, innovative changes to all skating disciplines and introducing skating sports to nontraditional winter sports countries, such as Thailand, Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates.

"I thank you for your support and your trust," Kim said after his re-election. "I assure you that I am as committed as I was back in 2022 to lead this organization for the future of our sport."

Kim is also a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and joined the IOC's Executive Board during the Milan-Cortina Winter Games this past February.

He was elected as an IOC member in 2023 in his capacity as the head of the global governing body of an Olympic sport. Thanks to his ISU re-election, Kim will retain his IOC membership.

Kim is the son-in-law of late Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee.

Yonhap