2023.06.02

On Tuesday, May 30, a sponsorship agreement ceremony was held at the headquarters of Nassau Co., Ltd. between Chairman Ju Eun Hyung and Kim Gil-li, a current national short track speed skating athlete (Seongnam City Hall / Korea University).

On the same day, Park Soo-young, CEO of Korea Kids Sports, and Song Sang-hoon, CEO of Teamwork Sports Academy, also signed a business agreement with Nassau for the establishment and joint operation of "Nassau Academy."

Nassau is a proud Korean company with a 50-year legacy, known for its excellence in sports equipment manufacturing, especially tennis balls. Before the entry of global brands like Nike, Nassau led the sports equipment industry in Korea during the 1970s to 1990s, contributing significantly to the nation’s sports development.

Nassau has long supported local events, sports competitions, and various athletic programs. It believes in the global potential of Korean sports, comparing the country’s athletic achievements to the global success of cultural phenomena like BTS. Chairman Ju expressed a desire to continue supporting athletes from diverse sports disciplines, just like Kim Gil-li.

In a touching moment, the production team from KFD arranged the surprise attendance of Jung Yong-joo, a Korea University senior and mentor who first discovered Kim Gil-li. Despite his physical challenges and initial hesitance, he appeared at the event to cheer on his former student. His heartfelt encouragement moved many, making the reunion between teacher and student a memorable story.

Also at the event, Nassau officially partnered with Korea Kids Sports and Teamwork Sports Academy to create and operate Nassau Academy. Chairman Ju stated, “With Nassau’s brand power, we aim to systematically foster young athletes' talent and allow children to grow up enjoying sports not just as a means of livelihood, but as a way to realize their dreams and happiness.”

Park Soo-young, CEO of Korea Kids Sports, commented, “Based on our experience in running youth clubs, we will offer high-quality services through Nassau Academy and support the well-rounded growth of young athletes. We will also do our utmost to raise public awareness of Nassau.”

Lee Won-il, Vice President of Nassau, who hosted the event, said, “I sincerely hope today’s agreement becomes a foundation for dreams and hope for our children ten years from now.”

Once primarily recognized as a B2B professional brand, Nassau is now evolving into a more accessible and public-friendly name through initiatives like Nassau Academy. Plans include local sports facility operations and sports platform development, signaling a transformation of Nassau into a familiar and community-rooted brand.

The event was covered by KFD (Korea Flex Development), a comprehensive advertising agency led by CEO Kim Jun-yeon, a TV production director and broadcast camera specialist. Kim personally captured the event on camera and video. KFD's mission is to turn Korea's proud traditions, regional culture, Korean Wave, sports, and arts into global content and share them with the world.

Kim emphasized that content media marketing is key to transforming Nassau into a globally recognized brand. Campaigns such as “Idol Meets Nassau” and “Dancing with Nassau” are currently in planning.

At its core, Nassau has walked with the Korean people through joyful and difficult times alike. As a sports brand with five decades of legacy, its future endeavors and transformation are now even more anticipated than its already meaningful history.

(Photos/Videos/Text: KFD)

Reporter: Jin Seong-wan, Korean Consumer Yonhap News