Korean Luge Federation Hosts Successful International Judge Course In Seoul

Seoul, South Korea (FIL/11 Aug 2025) The Korean Luge Federation (KLF) has taken another important step toward promoting the professional competence of its national technical officials (NTOs) with the successful completion of the international luge referee course on July 25 and 26 at the Seoul Olympic Park.

Thanks to financial support from the Korea Sports Promotion Organization (KSPO), a total of 34 participants were able to register for the course, 27 of whom successfully passed the FIL exam to become international referees.

The initiative comes as South Korea prepares to host further international luge competitions in Pyeongchang, including World Cups and possibly World Championships.

“At least 20 qualified NTOs are needed to ensure the smooth running of major events such as World Championships or World Cups,” explained Mr. Shin, chairman of the KLF's NTO department. “Each of these 20 officials has a different role – from start and finish to technical issues and temperature control. They need to understand every aspect of the sport. That can be very mentally demanding.”

The course included detailed technical lectures and practical exercises.

Among the participants was Kim Junhyun, a former member of the South Korean national skeleton team, who was surprised by the differences between the two ice track sports: “I never thought there would be such big differences between luge and skeleton. It was fascinating to learn about a sport that is so similar to mine, and I am looking forward to working as an NTO in luge soon.”

A survey conducted after the event revealed that 15 participants decided to obtain NTO certification after attending the EBERSPAECHER World Cup in Pyeongchang in February this year, which KLF sees as proof of the strong local impact of high-profile international events.

KLF remains committed to training highly qualified officials and promoting a strong luge culture in South Korea. With the growing number of international competitions, further investment in education and training is essential to ensure that events are held at a world-class level.