Ex-Sports Council Chairman Dies

Min Kwan-sik , senior leader of Korea’s sports community, a five-term lawmaker, and former Korea Sports Council chairperson, died of natural causes at his home in Yongsan, Seoul, Monday morning. He was 88 years old.

Born in Gaesung in 1918, Min was active in the political, academic, and sports circles. He was elected as a member of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth National Assembly and was also served as vice speaker and acting speaker of the 10th National Assembly.

Min, who was a huge tennis fan, played the sport with friends for a short while even on the day before he passed away, according to the bereaved family.

Min is survived by wife Kim Young-ho, 81, and three sons – entrepreneurs Byung-ui, 63, and Byung-chan, 52, and Byung-hwan, a 49-year-old public servant. Consolers may visit the funeral house of Samsung Medical Center until the body is moved for burial on Friday at 9:00 a.m. Contact number is 02-3410-3153.

Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com