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Hansae to promote American football in Korea ahead of 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Hansae Vice Chairman Kim Ik-hwan, right, poses with Korea American Football Association Chairman Yoo Ho-jung during an MOU signing ceremony at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hansae
By Lee Yeon-woo
Korean apparel manufacturer Hansae has partnered with the Korea American Football Association (KAFA) to promote the growth and wider appeal of American football in Korea, the company said Thursday.
Key officials, including Hansae Vice Chairman Kim Ik-hwan and KAFA Chairman Yoo Ho-jung, discussed future collaboration strategies at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony held at the company's headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday.
As part of the initiatives, Hansae will provide uniforms and attire for men's and women's national teams. The company will also launch an amateur American football league, along with other collaborative efforts to foster the sport's development.
"At this crucial time, as we prepare for the first-ever Olympic participation in flag football — a newly added sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics — Hansae's support is incredibly meaningful to us," Yoo said.
At the ceremony, Kim was also appointed chair of the Olympic preparation committee for flag football ahead of the LA Olympics.
His first official duty as chair will be attending the 2024 Flag Football World Championship in Finland on Aug. 26. There, he will support the Korean national team and meet with executives from the International Federation of American Football.
"I am thrilled to contribute to the growth of American football in Korea. With the important mission of guiding the national team to its first Olympic appearance, I am committed to fulfilling expectations through active support and efforts," Kim said.
"Looking ahead, Hansae will go beyond mere sponsorship to establish a successful collaboration model between sports and business. We are committed to participating in various social contribution activities that will help pave the way for the future development of sports."
Hansae is a global fashion company that operates 20 subsidiaries in nine countries, including the United States, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia, along with 10 overseas offices. The company manufactures and supplies apparel to renowned global brands like Gap and retail stores Target and Walmart.