Former Rhythmic Gymnast Son Yeon-jae Appointed as Director of Korean Gymnastics Association

Son Yeon-jae (손연재), a former national rhythmic gymnast and the head of Leap Studio, has been appointed as a director of the Korean Gymnastics Association. The announcement was made on March 6, 2025, following her selection during a board meeting held on February 26.

The recommendation for Son's appointment came from Yeo Hong-chul (여홍철), the former executive director of the association and a well-known figure in the gymnastics community, particularly as the father of current gymnast Yeo Seo-jeong (여서정). Yeo stated, "I personally recommended Son Yeon-jae as a director because someone like her should lead rhythmic gymnastics." Yeo, who won a silver medal in the vault at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, has been serving as the executive director since 2023.

Yeo expressed optimism that Son's presence would greatly benefit the promotion of gymnastics and the development of younger athletes. He noted, "Just having Son Yeon-jae at competitions and events will motivate the athletes. Knowing that a legendary senior is watching over their training and performances can lead to significant mental and psychological growth for them."

While Son Yeon-jae's official schedule as a director has not yet been confirmed, she is expected to attend the 9th National Central Region Elementary School Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition in Yanggu, Gangwon Province, in April, where she will observe the performances of junior athletes.

Son Yeon-jae is the only gymnast to have reached the Olympic finals since rhythmic gymnastics was introduced to Korea in 1976. She achieved fifth place in the individual all-around at the 2012 London Olympics and tied for the best-ever Asian result with a fourth-place finish at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Her accolades also include a bronze medal in the individual all-around at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games and a gold medal at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. Additionally, she was a four-time champion at the 2015 Gwangju Summer Universiade and achieved a clean sweep at the 2016 Tashkent Asian Championships.

Since retiring in 2017, Son has established a rhythmic gymnastics studio in Yongsan, Seoul, where she continues to lead and educate aspiring gymnasts.