Knowledge Management Needs on Sport in Korea = Knowledge Management Needs on Sport in Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The South Korean government has been very supportive in promoting sports in its country by sending large delegations to participate in international mega sporting events as well as hosting them, including the four most important international events: Summer and Winter Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and the IAAF World Championships. By 2018, the Republic of Korea will become the 6th country to have hosted all of them following France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Russia. Korea also hosted two Universiades, three Asian Games, a World Rowing Championship, CSIM World Games and plans to host more international events. In addition, the country’s top athletes have participated in all scales of mega sporting events and have produced great results. For example, Korea’s national team placed 5th in the medals stand at the 2012 London Summer Olympics. This significant achievement has transformed South Korea into a sporting powerhouse. There are numerous key factors behind South Korea’s emergence as a sporting powerhouse: efficient investment in sport science, continuous effort of hosting sporting events, striving to discover promising young athletes and training them efficiently by collaborating science and sports. Experts in diverse fields (scientists, analysts, psychologists, physiologists, coaches, dietitians, etc) of sport meticulously studied the optimal conditions needed for athletes to enhance performance and achieve the best possible results in competitions. The development and expansion of sport science studies, technology and equipment laid the foundation for the athletes needs and provided optimal conditions for athletes to train which ultimately led them to be successful and win medals. Knowledge management is imperative in building on these successes, findings and experiences. The fundamental role of knowledge management and its importance for competitive advantage are clear. Knowledge itself has become both a strategic property and a major source of competitiveness. Therefore, there needs to be a game plan for gathering needs assessment to develop knowledge management solely dedicated to sports science as well as a database to collect the vast wealth of experience gained from hosting games. The collected data or knowledge will be analyzed and interpreted to find appropriate motivations and solutions to further maximize factors necessary for South Korea to maintain its standing as a sporting powerhouse. Establishing a model or system of knowledge management can innovate, benefit, and further exploit the success of South Korea’s sporting landscape.