Korean sports body begins preparations for inter-Korean athletic exchanges
South and North Korean athletes share the podium during the U-19 division of the Asian Table Tennis Union Junior Championships held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, July 1. Captured from ATTU website
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) has begun laying groundwork for potential inter-Korean sports exchanges, signaling a proactive stance as the Lee Jae Myung administration continues to express openness to renewed dialogue with the North.
According to officials and documents obtained by the Hankook Ilbo, the KSOC sent an official letter on July 4 to individual sports federations, asking them to identify and report top-ranked North Korean athletes, particularly those within the top 30 of international rankings.
The request appears to be a preemptive move to avoid administrative confusion should sports diplomacy between the two Koreas suddenly resume, as has occurred under previous administrations.
A Unification Ministry official confirmed the development, saying, “We understand the KSOC has recently issued internal guidance regarding the identification of high-ranking North Korean athletes.”
However, no formal inter-ministerial discussions have yet taken place. The Unification Ministry's nominee is awaiting a confirmation hearing, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has yet to announce a nominee, suggesting current efforts are at an informal, preparatory stage.
The KSOC’s move comes amid increasing opportunities for direct encounters between athletes from the two Koreas at upcoming international sporting events.
In June, South Korean duo Choi Ji-wook and Yoo Ye-rin competed against North Korea’s Jon Ju-pyong and Jo Hong-rim in the mixed doubles semifinals of the U-19 Asian Table Tennis Union (ATTU) Junior Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
The South Korean team advanced to the finals and ultimately won gold, while the North took bronze, a rare moment that saw athletes from both Koreas share the podium.
The ATTU tournament is scheduled to take place next year in Pyongyang, and the Korea Table Tennis Association is expected to begin formal discussions regarding participation at the ATTU General Assembly in India this October.
While there are currently no plans to form joint inter-Korean teams, the KSOC said that its internal request was intended to prepare for possible contact or interaction with North Korea during major events, such as the Pyongyang table tennis tournament, the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya.
“It’s not about forming a unified team right now,” said a KSOC official. “This is simply an internal review to prepare for any potential engagement in events where both South and North Korean athletes may participate.”
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.