KIHA President Chung Mong-won has outlined the national governing body’s intention to use next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang as a springboard for the development of its men’s and women’s programmes ©KIHA

Korea Ice Hockey Association (KIHA) President Chung Mong-won has outlined the national governing body’s intention to use next year’s Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang as a springboard for the development of its men’s and women’s programmes.

Speaking during a media briefing at the Korea National Training Center in Seoul, Chung said attempts to improve both programmes should not cease after Pyeongchang 2018.

South Korea’s men’s team, coached by former National Hockey League (NHL) defenceman Jim Paek of Canada, currently sits 21st in the world rankings.

The country’s women’s team, led by American Sarah Murray, is ranked 22nd.

As the host nation, the two teams have received automatic spots to compete at Pyeongchang 2018.

It will mark South Korea’s first appearance in both the men’s and women’s Olympic ice hockey events.

"After Pyeongchang, we'll try to qualify for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on merit," Chung was reported as saying by Yonhap at the briefing, which was held to look ahead to the 200-day countdown to Pyeongchang 2018 on Monday (July 24).  

"We hope to expand our grassroots and generate more interest in the sport."

South Korea's women's team are currently ranked 22nd in the world ©Getty Images
South Korea's women's team are currently ranked 22nd in the world ©Getty Images

Yonhap reports that KIHA intends to encourage more schools to form ice hockey teams, aimed at increasing the pool of talent, and also train up ice hockey coaches and administrators to lead future national teams.

South Korea’s men’s team is due to travel to Russian city Vladivostok next week for two friendly matches against a team from the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).

Next month, the team is scheduled to enter the Mountfield Cup competition in Czech Republic’s capital Prague.

Most of the national players are contracted to clubs in the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH), which has agreed to shorten its 2017-2018 regular season, starting in September, from 48 games to 28 in order to allow time for training in the build-up to Pyeongchang 2018.

Paek is due to assemble the national team at the beginning of November. 

Last week, the KHL confirmed there will be a break in its 2017-2018 season to free players to compete at Pyeongchang 2018.

The move is in stark contrast to the NHL, which has previously revealed there will be no break factored into its 2017-2018 calendar, due to take place from October 5 to April 7.

It means the top players from the North American-based NHL will not be able to compete at Pyeongchang 2018.