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N. Korea's longtime IOC member Chang Ung dies at 87 | Yonhap News Agency

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April 1, 2026, 3:31 AM 8 min read 8 views

Summary

OK SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- Chang Ung, North Korea's long-serving member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has died, the committee said on its website Wednesday. Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, attends the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, in this file photo. (Yonhap) Born in Pyongyang in 1938, Chang began his career as a basketball player before transitioning into coaching and sports education in North Korea. Chang Ung (R), an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from North Korea, shakes hands with fellow IOC member Wu Ching-Kuo of Chinese Taipei (L) during the opening ceremony of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Taekwondo Championships at Taekwondowon's T1 Arena in Muju, North Jeolla Province, on June 24, 2017. (Yonhap) Kim Un-yong, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (R), and North Korean IOC member Chang Ung attend a taekwondo event at the Gudeok Gymnasium during the Asian Games on Oct. 10, 2002. (Yonhap) Chang also contributed to the joint march of the two Koreas' delegations at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 4, 2018, to attend the 132nd IOC Session in Gangeung, a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the following day. (Yonhap) jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Chang Ung #IOC member #obituary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed Gov't proposes 26.2 tln-won extra budget to cushion impact of Middle East tensions Korean Air to enter emergency management mode over soaring fuel costs (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

## Summary
OK SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- Chang Ung, North Korea's long-serving member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has died, the committee said on its website Wednesday. Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, attends the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, in this file photo. (Yonhap) Born in Pyongyang in 1938, Chang began his career as a basketball player before transitioning into coaching and sports education in North Korea. Chang Ung (R), an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from North Korea, shakes hands with fellow IOC member Wu Ching-Kuo of Chinese Taipei (L) during the opening ceremony of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Taekwondo Championships at Taekwondowon's T1 Arena in Muju, North Jeolla Province, on June 24, 2017. (Yonhap) Kim Un-yong, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (R), and North Korean IOC member Chang Ung attend a taekwondo event at the Gudeok Gymnasium during the Asian Games on Oct. 10, 2002. (Yonhap) Chang also contributed to the joint march of the two Koreas' delegations at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 4, 2018, to attend the 132nd IOC Session in Gangeung, a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the following day. (Yonhap) jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Chang Ung #IOC member #obituary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed Gov't proposes 26.2 tln-won extra budget to cushion impact of Middle East tensions Korean Air to enter emergency management mode over soaring fuel costs (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

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SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- Chang Ung, North Korea's long-serving member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has died, the committee said on its website Wednesday. He was 87.
In a post, the IOC expressed "deep sorrow" over the passing of Chang, who had been an IOC member since 1996 and later served as an honorary member.
"Chang devoted his whole life to the development of sports in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and to fostering dialogue within the Olympic Movement," IOC President Kirsty Coventry said in a statement, using North Korea's official name.
"His efforts to promote cooperation on the Korean Peninsula demonstrated the power of sport to build bridges and inspire hope," she added.
Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, attends the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in South Korea, in this file photo. (Yonhap)
Born in Pyongyang in 1938, Chang began his career as a basketball player before transitioning into coaching and sports education in North Korea. He also held senior positions within the country's Olympic committee for many years.
He played notable roles in inter-Korean sports diplomacy, including the launch of the inter-Korean joint table tennis team in 1991. He also facilitated the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the North's International Taekwondo Federation and the South's World Taekwondo Federation at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China, in 2014, according to the IOC.
Chang Ung (R), an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member from North Korea, shakes hands with fellow IOC member Wu Ching-Kuo of Chinese Taipei (L) during the opening ceremony of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) World Taekwondo Championships at Taekwondowon's T1 Arena in Muju, North Jeolla Province, on June 24, 2017. (Yonhap)
Kim Un-yong, a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) (R), and North Korean IOC member Chang Ung attend a taekwondo event at the Gudeok Gymnasium during the Asian Games on Oct. 10, 2002. (Yonhap)
Chang also contributed to the joint march of the two Koreas' delegations at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games. During the latter, Chang visited South Korea and told local press that he was "deeply moved" to see athletes from both nations marching together. He left before the closing ceremony due to health concerns.
One of his last public appearances was at the 134th IOC Session in Lausanne, Switzerland, in June 2019.
Over the course of his IOC tenure, he served on several commissions, including the International Olympic Truce Foundation and Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport, Culture and Olympic Heritage.
Chang is survived by a son and daughter, both of whom are involved in North Korea's sports sector.
The IOC said the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at Olympic House in his honor.
Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 4, 2018, to attend the 132nd IOC Session in Gangeung, a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the following day. (Yonhap)
jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr
(END)
Keywords
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#IOC member
#obituary
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N. Korea's longtime IOC member Chang Ung dies at 87

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- He played notable roles in inter-Korean sports diplomacy, including the launch of the inter-Korean joint table tennis team in 1991.
- Korea's strong backlash against growing S.

### Areas for Consideration
- Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 4, 2018, to attend the 132nd IOC Session in Gangeung, a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the following day. (Yonhap) jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Chang Ung #IOC member #obituary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed Gov't proposes 26.2 tln-won extra budget to cushion impact of Middle East tensions Korean Air to enter emergency management mode over soaring fuel costs (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

### Implications
- The IOC said the Olympic flag will be flown at half-mast for three days at Olympic House in his honor.
- Chang Ung, a North Korean International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, arrives at Incheon International Airport on Feb. 4, 2018, to attend the 132nd IOC Session in Gangeung, a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the following day. (Yonhap) jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr (END) Keywords #Chang Ung #IOC member #obituary Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold Most Viewed All Categories (LEAD) Lee urges bold measures to cope with concerns about energy situation, including emergency economic decree if needed Gov't proposes 26.2 tln-won extra budget to cushion impact of Middle East tensions Korean Air to enter emergency management mode over soaring fuel costs (LEAD) Trump calls on countries to 'go get your own oil' from Strait of Hormuz, or buy it from U.S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers ioc, chang, korea topics. Notable strengths include discussion of ioc. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 782.
ioc chang korea member olympic north ung international

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