In the Korean zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Red Horse — a sign associated with drive and momentum. With this in mind, the Organising Committee is focusing on meaningful progress toward the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

This issue opens with New Year’s messages from the Games Ambassadors, and highlights the visit of Sports Minister CHAE Hwi-young, who reaffirmed government support for the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games.

Elsewhere, film director CHANG You-jeong has been named to helm the opening and closing ceremonies, while the US Delegation made its first visit to Chungcheong. We also cover the 3rd General Assembly of the Organising Committee, and Gyeongin National University of Education’s Platinum certification under the FISU Healthy Campus programme.

Sport has the power to shape both our daily lives and the society around us. I believe the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games will bring new energy through sport.

As someone from Okcheon, I am interested in seeing how the Games may influence the Chungcheong region more broadly. I will continue to support the journey towards Chungcheong 2027, and wish everyone a healthy and positive 2026.

The Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games will bring together student-athletes from around the world across the four host regions of Chungcheong. It will be a place where young athletes come together to pursue their goals and challenges.

This year may be a good opportunity to try a new sport or to watch a competition you have been interested in. I will continue my own training and challenges, while supporting the journey towards Chungcheong 2027. Go for it in 2026, and I wish everyone a positive and encouraging year ahead!

Minister Chae Visits the OC,

Pledging Full State Support for Chungcheong 2027

On 19 January 2026, Mr CHAE Hwi-young, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea, visited the Chungcheong 2027 Organising Committee as part of his New Year official engagements. The visit reflected the growing recognition of the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games as an event of national significance.

During the visit, the minister received a briefing on the overall progress in preparations for the Games and toured key competition venues and the Athletes’ Village. He emphasised the importance of delivering a Games that goes beyond sport, serving as a platform that brings together K-sport, culture and tourism in an integrated manner.

The minister also highlighted the broader meaning of hosting a global youth sporting event in the Chungcheong region, underscoring the values of unity and cohesion.

He expressed his hope that the Chungcheong 2027 FISU Games would further enhance Korea’s international profile and concluded his visit by offering his encouragement and support to the Organising Committee.

CHANG You-jeong Named Executive Director

for Chungcheong 2027 Ceremonies

On 19 January 2026, the Organising Committee appointed renowned film director CHANG You-jeong as Executive Director of the opening and closing ceremonies.

CHANG is a highly acclaimed filmmaker who has directed hits including, ‘Honest Candidate’, ‘The Bros’, and ‘Finding Mr. Destiny’. Her extensive portfolio also spans theatre and musicals, with notable works such as ‘The Dresser’, ‘Melodrama’, ‘The Days’, and ‘Oh! While You Were Sleeping’. Most recently, she solidified her reputation with the drama series ‘Please Drink Responsibly’.

CHANG brings invaluable international experience to the Games, having earned global praise for her role in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Serving alongside Executive Director SONG Seung-hwan, she was the creative force behind the widely celebrated closing ceremony.

As the ceremonies represent the symbolic heartbeat of the Games — showcasing the spirit of Chungcheong and Korea on the global stage — the Organising Committee is dedicated to delivering a truly distinctive and meaningful experience under the leadership of Executive Director CHANG You-jeong.

US Delegation Makes First Official Visit

for Chungcheong 2027

The US delegation conducted the first official site visit to Chungcheong 2027 from 12 to 13 January to review preparations for the Games. As the first visit formally requested by a participating nation, the Organising Committee anticipates that this will spark further interest and follow-up visits from other participating delegations.

During the visit, the delegation attended departmental meetings covering accommodation, food and beverage, transportation, culture, marketing, and international cooperation to discuss athlete support plans and specific collaborative measures. The delegation also conducted on-site inspections of the competition venues and the Athletes’ Village to verify the progress of the facilities. Furthermore, the Organising Committee and the US delegation exchanged a wide range of ideas on several key areas, including:

• Exclusive Accommodations: Securing dedicated hotels for the US delegation within the Chungcheong region.
• Logistics: Enhancing transportation convenience for athletes and officials.
• Partnerships: Exploring joint sponsorship opportunities.
• Regional Integration: Linking the event with potential local tourism programs.

Deputy Head of the US Delegation Nels Hawkinson said, “I had a wonderful visit with the Chungcheong 2027 Organising Committee. I am excited to report that the new Athletes’ Village buildings are ahead of schedule — they look fantastic. I was so impressed by the staff’s hard work to ensure all countries have an amazing experience.”

3rd General Assembly Held:

Transition from Planning to Implementation

The Organising Committee held its 3rd General Assembly on 17 December at OSCO in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do. More than 100 participants attended the meeting, including Organising Committee President KANG Chang-hee and other committee members, to review progress to date and reaffirm their shared commitment to the successful delivery of the Games.

During the Assembly, four key priority areas for 2026 were confirmed:

• Establishing an on-site, operations-focused support framework
• Expanding competition-centred infrastructure
• Strengthening demand-driven promotion and marketing activities
• Establishing a stakeholder-centred communication framework

These priorities reflect a strategic shift towards enhancing practical readiness and delivering a more complete and well-prepared Games. Through these efforts, the Organising Committee aims to create a sports festival where young people from around the world can fully pursue their aspirations and express their talents.

FISU Healthy Campus:

Gyeongin National University of Education Attains Platinum Certification

The FISU Healthy Campus programme is an international certification initiative that evaluates universities’ health policies and operational systems across campus life. Certification is granted based on 100 criteria across seven key areas. Rather than limiting its scope to physical education and health services, the programme takes a comprehensive approach, assessing areas including physical activity and sport, nutrition, disease prevention, mental and social wellbeing, environment, sustainability and social responsibility, management and governance, and efforts to prevent risky behaviour.

Since 2024, the Organising Committee has actively promoted the Healthy Campus programme among universities in Korea. To date, a total of nine institutions have received FISU Healthy Campus certification. The other eight are: Woosong University, Pai Chai University, Hanbat National University, Chungnam National University, Dankook University (Cheonan Campus), Kyung Hee University, Kyungpook National University and Kongju National University.