National Sports Museum Launches ‘Relic Donation Relay’ — Vice Minister Jang Mi-ran Kicks Off as First Donor
– 88 Items Donated Including Olympic Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals, Competition Uniforms, and Weightlifting Shoes (2004–2012)
– Targeting Opening in Late 2026… “A Space to Share the History and Inspiration of Korean Sports”
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, together with the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, has launched the “Relay of Donations by Korean Sports Stars” to mark the opening of the National Sports Museum and raise public interest in Korea’s first national museum dedicated to sports.
The first participant in this donation relay is Deputy Minister Jang Mi-ran, Korea’s first female Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting.
To allow the public to easily connect with Korea’s sports history and spirit, and to experience the moments of passion and inspiration, the National Sports Museum is currently being built inside Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, with an expected opening in the second half of 2026.
This relay aims to raise awareness of the museum’s purpose by collecting donated memorabilia from Korea’s sports stars.
Deputy Minister Jang is donating a total of 88 items, including all of her Olympic medals — silver from the 2004 Athens Olympics, gold from the 2008 Beijing Olympics (Korea’s first ever in women’s weightlifting), and bronze from the 2012 London Olympics — as well as medals from the Asian Games, her training uniform, weightlifting belt, and weightlifting shoes worn during competition.
She shared that her most unforgettable competition was the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where she fulfilled her dream of setting a world record and winning gold. She recalled how her weightlifting shoes, worn and worn down from intense training, became a topic of lighthearted jokes among teammates and coaches about ending up in a museum — and now they truly have.
The donation relay will continue until the museum’s opening, with other Olympic medalists and major figures in Korean sports history expected to join. The ministry plans to actively use these donations as cultural sports content for the public.
To further promote the museum, on May 23, the ministry will release a special episode of its official YouTube series, “Jang Mi-ran’s Neighborhood Walk,” introducing the National Sports Museum, stories behind the donated items, and nearby attractions including fitness certification zones and art exhibits.
Short videos from the donation relay will also be available on the museum’s YouTube channel. Additionally, the Korean government’s official YouTube channel will share content on the enduring value of sports, featuring a special appearance by Deputy Minister Jang.
Jang Mi-ran stated, “It is an honor to participate as the first donor in this relay. While these items are deeply meaningful to me personally, I believe it’s even more important to share their value with the public and pass it on to future generations.”
She added, “Through this donation relay, I hope the National Sports Museum will become a central space that conveys the history and inspiration of Korean sports. I encourage everyone’s interest and participation.”
[Editor Junbeom]
