Ryu Seung-min / YonhapRyu Seung-min, the newest member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) from South Korea, said Thursday he'd like to dedicate himself to developing the country's sports in his new capacity.
The 2004 Olympic men's singles table tennis champion was elected to the IOC's Athletes' Commission, a result that surprised many, including Ryu himself.
He finished second in the voting by the athletes participating in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Four seats on the 15-member commission will be vacant after Rio, and Ryu was joined by former German fencer Britta Heidemann, Hungarian swimmer Daniel Gyurta, and Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva.
"I am going to do the best I can to contribute to the development of South Korean sports," Ryu said at a press conference for the South Korean journalists in Rio.
Ryu, 34, is the second South Korean to be elected to the commission, after former Olympic taekwondo gold medalist Moon Dae-sung.
Moon is one of four outgoing members whose eight-year terms will end this month. Moon was suspended last month over plagiarism in his doctoral dissertation.
Ryu said he'd gone through some "long, lonely days" during his campaign.
"I didn't have high expectations for the election. And I also heard I wouldn't stand a great chance before I arrived here," he said. "But I was encouraged by people's support. It's an emotional victory for me. I've been playing for myself over the past quarter century, and now I will work for my country,"
Ryu said he learned how little the athletes knew about the candidates and the IOC election, and the only way to change it was to do the legwork.
"I was out there from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day, greeting the athletes and trying to cheer them on," Ryu said. "I am just grateful for all the athletes, whether they voted for me or not."
With another South Korean IOC member, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, bedridden for two years, Ryu will essentially be the lone active South Korean presence in the top Olympic body.
As South Korea's PyeongChang gets ready to host the next Winter Games in 2018, Ryu said he understands the importance of his role.
"I must act as the bridge between the IOC and the organizing committee for the PyeongChang Olympics," Ryu said. "I don't have much experience as a sports administrator yet, but I will try to learn as quickly as possible."
Ryu said he won't just be satisfied with being an athlete member.
"After my eight-year term ends, I aspire to become a regular IOC member," he said. "I'd like to become an athlete member who can do his job."
Ryu, who also won a team bronze in 2008 and a team silver medal in 2012, said he was a fierce, ruthless competitor during his playing days.
But as an administrator, "I'll be someone with a warm heart who will embrace everyone." (Yonhap)