Discussions

After playing on the U.S. Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour, Lim Sung-jae, 26, is back in Korea to defend his title.

At its 29th meeting held at the Government Complex in Seoul, the National Education Commission (NEC) voted on Saturday to revise the national curriculum to separate physical education from 'Joyful Life' in grades 1 and 2, which has been a combination of physical education, music and art, and to create a new integrated curriculum, reflecting a request from the Ministry of Education. It has been 42 years since the 4th Curriculum, which was introduced in 1981, and 35 years since physical education was integrated into the 5th Curriculum, which was introduced in 1989.

The Seoul Half Marathon 2024 (co-organized by Chosun Ilbo, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seoul Sports Federation) is just one day away. More than 20,000 runners, the largest number ever, will take off from Gwanghwamun Square at 8 a.m. on the 28th and run through the city's traffic-filled roads to Yeouido Park for the 10-kilometer race and Sangam World Cup Park Peace Plaza for the half marathon (21.0975 kilometers). The experience of crossing the two Han River bridges, Mapo Bridge and Yanghwa Bridge, in the middle of a strong wind (once over Mapo Bridge in the 10-kilometer race) is unforgettable. Along the way, acoustic bands and colorful song-and-dance busking teams will entertain you along the way.

"It's a big problem, we have to go to the Olympics, but there are no athletes...." Jang Jae-geun (62), the head of the Jincheon National Athletes' Village, who is traveling to France to inspect the preparations for the Paris Olympics, let out a sigh on the phone on the 26th. With the men's soccer team also failing to make it to Paris, the number of athletes sent to the Games is expected to shrink to around 150. "It shouldn't be a big setback for the medal tally, but this (150) may be a hopeful number," he said. Jang is a track and field legend who won back-to-back 200-meter titles at the 1982 New Delhi and 1986 Seoul Asian Games.