Kim Jae-yol Re-elected ISU President, Retains IOC Roles

Kim Jae-yol secured a second term as President of the International Skating Union (ISU) at the organization's 60th General Assembly in Tenerife, Spain. Running unopposed, his re-election extends his leadership through 2027. This marks a significant achievement, as he is the first Korean to be re-elected as the head of an international sports federation outside of taekwondo.

Kim, who first became ISU president in 2022, is the first non-European to hold the position in the ISU's 130-year history. During his first term, he championed "ISU Vision 2030," focusing on growth, opportunity, innovation, athlete protection, and unity. His administration is credited with enhancing fairness, including improvements to short track judging systems, and modernizing the sport by allowing previously forbidden techniques like the backflip in figure skating.

Looking ahead, Kim plans to continue pursuing the goals of Vision 2030. The ISU is also undergoing marketing innovations, including consolidating world championships for disciplines like short track, speed skating, and figure skating into single events, with Beijing set to host the 2028 combined championships. Athlete prize money is also set to more than double, from $5.4 million to $11 million starting in the 2026-2027 season.

Kim's continued leadership in the ISU also means he retains his positions as an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member and executive board member, roles he secured in October 2023 and February of this year, respectively.

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Thank you for your trust and support. The 'ISU Vision 2030' that we have pursued with you for the past four years is not yet complete. We will continue to move forward for the future of skating and sports.