Cho Su-ji (32), a board member of the Korea Ice Hockey Association and former national women's ice hockey team player, has become the first South Korean to be elected as a vice president of the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF).

Cho won the election for Asian regional vice president at the IIHF Congress held in Tenerife, Spain, today (2nd), securing 60 votes (a 51.28% approval rate).

This marks the first time in history that a South Korean ice hockey official has been elected as an IIHF vice president.

As the newly elected vice president, Cho will directly participate in major IIHF decision-making processes over the next four years, taking on the vital responsibility of representing the Asian region and leading the development of international ice hockey.

Cho left a deep impression on the international stage when she played as a member of the inter-Korean women's ice hockey unified team during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

After retiring, she transitioned into an administrator via serving as a national team coach, leveraging her field experience as both a player and a coach to expand domestic and international exchanges.

Following the election, Vice President Cho remarked, "It is deeply meaningful to take on a new role on the international stage representing South Korean ice hockey. Based on the voices from players and the field, I will do my utmost to expand the base and develop ice hockey in South Korea and the Asian region."

Korea Ice Hockey Association President Yang Seung-jun congratulated her, saying, "Board member Cho Su-ji's election as IIHF vice president is a meaningful achievement that marks a new history for South Korean ice hockey in the field of international administration. I hope she will represent South Korea and make significant contributions to the development of Asian ice hockey as well."

The Korea Ice Hockey Association added that, building on Vice President Cho's election, it plans to further expand sports exchanges with member countries in the Asian and Oceanian regions and strengthen South Korea's international sports diplomacy in ice hockey.

(Photo provided by the Korea Ice Hockey Association, Yonhap News)