Korea's 1st nat'l sports museum opens in Seoul

Korea inaugurated its inaugural national museum exclusively focused on sports on Thursday, showcasing a collection of approximately 70,000 items that chronicle the nation's athletic heritage, from ancient marathon victories to the 1988 Seoul Olympics. This National Sports Museum of Korea was constructed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.

The museum aims to exhibit and systematically preserve Korean sporting history, both domestically and internationally, according to the ministry.

Situated within a six-story structure featuring two underground levels at Olympic Park in southern Seoul, the museum houses the Olympic gold medal achieved by Korean marathoner Suh Yun-bok in the 1947 Boston Marathon, as well as the soccer footwear once owned by Korean football trailblazer Kim Yong-sik. Additionally, the wrestling attire of Yang Jung-mo, South Korea's first Olympic gold medalist, is on display at the museum.

Visitors to the museum can also view the torch utilized during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, as well as the basketball hoop prominently featured in the Games' opening ceremony. Around 150 individuals attended the museum's opening ceremony, which was graced by the presence of Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Chae Hwi-young, along with key figures from the sports and cultural sectors.