Former Korean Air chair gave wings to Korea's sports, arts

Industry

Published: 30 Apr. 2024, 06:00

Former Korean Air chair gave wings to Korea's sports, arts

Late Hanjin Group and Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho poses for a photo with the medal-winning players of Korea's men's table tennis team at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. [HANJIN GROUP]

Former Hanjin Group Chairman Cho Yang-ho, known for his contributions in the aviation sector, was not only a prominent figure in the industry but also extended his support to sports and the arts.

Cho took on the challenge of securing the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the country's third attempt after unsuccessful bids in 2003 and 2007. Already extensively involved in sports as president of the Korea Table Tennis Association (KTTA) among other roles, he answered the call. Cho's role as the head of Hanjin Group, a conglomerate in aviation and logistics, offered a significant benefit for the country hosting its first Winter Olympics — with Cho's travels in pursuit of support equivalent to circling the Earth 16 times as he engaged with over 100 International Olympic Committee (IOC) members during his nearly two-year tenure.

Aside from his contributions to sports outreach, Cho also played a role in diplomacy and business. He served as co-chairman of the Korea-U.S. Business Council, and sponsored Korean language guide services at renowned cultural institutions worldwide, including the Louvre Museum in France, the Hermitage Museum in Russia, and the British Museum in the U.K.

Cho is invested as a Grand Officier in France's Legion of Honor, the second-highest honor after Chevalier, by then-French President François Hollande in Seoul in 2015. [HANJIN GROUP]

A private diplomat

Cho engaged in diplomatic efforts across various sectors, contributing to the elevation of Korea's international standing.

His endeavors as a private diplomat included leadership roles in organizations such as the Korea-France High-level Businessmen's Club and the Korean organizing committee for the Korea-France Year 2015-2016, which was organized in celebration of the 130th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Through these positions, Cho fostered stronger economic and cultural bilateral relations.

In recognition of his contributions to promoting the ties, Cho was honored by the French government. In 2004, he received the title of Commander of the Legion of Honor, followed by the title of Grand Officier in France's Legion of Honor, the highest distinction for foreigners who are not heads of state. Cho's commitment to international relations echoed the legacy of his father, the late Hanjin Group founder Cho Choong-hoon, who initiated Korea's aviation connections with France in 1971 by procuring aircraft from Airbus and establishing routes between Seoul and Paris.

Beyond France, Cho's diplomatic efforts extended to Mongolia, where he was honored with the Polaris decoration in 2005. This recognition highlighted his contributions to the country's development, such as student scholarship programs, and the fostering of genuine cooperation between Korea and Mongolia.

Cho, right, listens to the Korean language audio guide at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, after he signed a deal to provide Korean language services at the company in 2008. [HANJIN GROUP]

Cho sought to enhance Korea's global presence by initiating Korean language guide services at prestigious cultural institutions worldwide.

"The works collected by the Louvre or Orsay are cultural and artistic heritage for people worldwide," Cho thought, according to his biography "Charting New Horizons: the Life and Legacy of Cho Yang-ho."

"Should only the citizens of the languages for which interpretive services are provided have the right to appreciate and enjoy such heritage?" He wondered. "Isn't it right to provide Koreans with such opportunities as well?"

Cho aimed to instill a sense of pride among Koreans abroad and elevate his country's position on the world stage, beginning with the Louvre in 2008, as well as the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the British Museum in London, and the Orsay Museum in Paris.

Cho receives the bid confirmation for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics at the final selection during the IOC session held in Durban, South Africa, in July 2011. [HANJIN GROUP]

Hosting the PyeongChang Winter Olympics

Korea's northern province of Gangwon held a special place in Cho's heart as the site of his military service and the successful PyeongChang Olympics.

Returning from the United States in 1970, Cho served in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) with the 7th Infantry Division of the Korean Army in Hwacheon, Gangwon. He later served in Vietnam for 11 months before returning to the DMZ in Gangwon, completing a total of 36 months of military service and being discharged as a sergeant in July 1973.

Cho's relationship with Gangwon resurfaced through the Winter Olympics. In 2009, he assumed the role of chairman of the bidding committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

With direct routes to the IOC Sessions venues scarce, Cho traveled to these destinations using a business jet. Within his tenure of one year and 10 months, he embarked on approximately 50 overseas trips, covering around 640,000 kilometers (398,000 miles). During this period, he personally engaged with 100 out of 110 IOC members, advocating for PyeongChang's bid.

Cho participates in the torch relay for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics in the Gwanghwamun area of central Seoul on Jan. 13, 2018. [NEWS1]

Utilizing Korean Air's SkyTeam network, Cho fostered friendships with IOC members globally, convincing them to support the Korean bid. Internally, he established a support system within Korean Air, setting up task forces for the bid at all 75 overseas offices to monitor IOC members' movements and effectively gather information. Additionally, Cho facilitated the entry of the IOC inspection team into Korea through the airline's headquarters. Before they left, he presented the team with an eight-page photo book commemorating their activities.

Such dedication and efforts led to the successful bid for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

After securing the Games, Cho assumed the role of organizing committee chairman in July 2014.

During his 22-month tenure, he tangled issues such as controversies over stadium construction delays, debates on the relocation of Olympic ceremonies and venues as well as discussions regarding decentralized event hosting.

Cho hugs Yoo Nam-kyu, coach for Korea's men's table tennis team, after the team won a silver medal at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. [HANJIN GROUP]

Love for sports

Besides his role in establishing the foundation for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Cho is also known as a business figure with a profound passion for sports — particularly for table tennis.

The Korean table tennis scene grappled with financial crises in 2008. Cho took over the role as the president of the KTTA and spearheaded initiatives such as the introduction of a coaching system and the establishment of dedicated training facilities, which bolstered the sport's infrastructure in the nation. Additionally, his appointment as vice president of the Asia Table Tennis Union from 2009 further elevated Korea's standing on the global sports stage.

Busan's successful bid to host the 2020 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) World Team Table Tennis Championships owes itself to Cho. During the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, he engaged in discussions with Thomas Weikert, the president of the ITTF, advocating for Korea as the host country for the event and soliciting cooperation from the international federation.

From his position as a member of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in 2009 to his elevation to vice president in 2010, Cho contributed to the advancement of sports across various domains. He created a professional volleyball team under Korean Air along with semi-pro teams in men's speed skating and women's table tennis.

Cho poses with his camera during a trip in Greece in 2003. [HANJIN GROUP]

Exploring new routes with a camera

Cho also had a unique passion for photography during his lifetime. He personally ventured to numerous overseas destinations, particularly focusing on areas unserved by Korean airlines, to assess their suitability for travel and to explore the potential for opening new routes.

Cho's business travels were always accompanied by a camera, reflecting his passion for capturing the world around him. Whether on a business trip or personal adventure, he made sure to seize every opportunity to photograph stunning landscapes and scenes.

"These days, I am learning how to live from watching my grandchildren," he wrote on the first page of the 2011 calendar of snapshots taken by Cho. "Just as my ancestors did with my son, I look forward to exploring the world with my grandchildren one day. Through the lens of a camera, the world will come alive with various meanings."

Cho's journey into photography traces back to his middle school days when he received a camera from his father.

He favored exploring new destinations. Instead of revisiting the same place multiple times, he preferred to explore locations less traveled by Koreans. Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, Istanbul in Turkey and Mount Huangshan in China, for instance, are places where Cho traveled himself, assessing their market potential — later becoming air routes connecting to Korea.

Cho did not want his photographs to remain solely his own. He created calendars featuring his own photographs and gifted them to foreign CEOs and diplomats, fostering opportunities for mutual understanding and conversation through shared landscapes captured with an ordinary eye.

Cho particularly believed that altering the camera angle could provide a fresh outlook on familiar objects. This later became his management philosophy, termed "angle management theory," emphasizing the pursuit of innovation through shifts in perspective.

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]