Jang Yoon-chang (65), a professor at Kyunghee University who led the golden era of Korean men's volleyball in the 1980s and 1990s, passed away on the 30th due to an illness.
Professor Jang was selected as the youngest national representative at age 17 while in the second year of high school at Inchang High School in 1978, leading the golden era of Korean men's volleyball. He contributed to Korea reaching the semifinals at the 1978 World Championship.
He led the quest for gold medals at the Bangkok Asian Games that year and the New Delhi Asian Games in 1982, and he won a silver medal at the 1986 Seoul Asian Games.
In 1983, he participated as a founding member of Korea Securities, known for its 'team-oriented volleyball,' and helped lead a golden age of corporate volleyball alongside Hyundai Motor.
Starting with receiving the popular player award at the inaugural President's Cup tournament (1984), he also earned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title. With his performance, Korea Securities won the championship title six times, the most in history, including the first championship.
After retiring from active competition, he went to study in the United States, obtaining a master's degree in sports science from George Washington University, and later received a doctoral degree from Korea National Sport University. He then served as a professor in the Department of Sports Science at his alma mater, Kyunghee University, and also served as the technical director of the Korea Volleyball Association, as well as president of the Republic of Korea National Athlete Association, established in 2011, and a game committee member of the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO).
Professor Jang was reported to have been diagnosed with stomach cancer at the end of last year and was undergoing treatment. The funeral is at Samsung Medical Center, and the burial will take place on June 1 at 5:30 a.m.