Hwang Cheol-gyu, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and a People Power Party lawmaker representing Seongdong District 4, said he will work to boost international exchange by linking sports with culture and tourism around the 2026 Seoul World Youth Hockey Tournament, set to be held on the Han River next month.
Hwang attended the launch ceremony for the tournament's organizing committee Thursday at the Seoul Metropolitan Council's member hall, where he pledged support for the event's successful staging and the expansion of international youth sports exchange.
He expressed hope that the tournament would go beyond athletic competition among young players from around the world to become a stage for cross-cultural understanding and friendship. He said the Han River venue — one of Seoul's signature waterfront spaces — offered a prime opportunity to weave cultural and tourism programming into the event and showcase the city's diverse appeal to participating athletes.
"Sports have the power to create new value beyond simply determining winners and counting medals," Hwang said. "The sweat young athletes shed on the field will transcend barriers of nationality and language, building mutual understanding and broadening the horizons of the next generation."
He said the tournament's reach should be extended by connecting the international sporting event with Seoul's cultural and tourism resources. Young athletes should be offered programs that let them experience Seoul's culture and sights firsthand, he said, turning the event into an opportunity to promote the city's competitiveness on the world stage.
The launch ceremony, organized by the Seoul Hockey Association, was held to establish a stable operational framework and lay the groundwork for public-private cooperation. About 100 people attended, including members of South Korea's national youth hockey squad, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Council, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Sports Council and partner media organizations.
The 2026 Seoul World Youth Hockey Tournament will run for six days from Sept. 6 to 11 at Jamwon Han River Park. Young athletes from around the world will compete, while cultural events and international exchange programs are planned to make the tournament a festival blending sports and culture.
"I hope this tournament will show the world the new possibilities of K-sports and K-culture, and serve as an opportunity to highlight Seoul's appeal," Hwang said. "The Seoul Metropolitan Council's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will continue to provide the support needed for Seoul to grow into a sports, culture and tourism destination that young people from around the world want to visit."
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
