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Park Chung Gun (bottom left) has significantly contributed to Vietnamese shooting. Photo: BL

His decision follows a lack of discussions with the Vietnam Sports Administration (VSA) regarding contract extension, leading to his departure back to Korea on September 6.

Park's contract with the Vietnam shooting team expired on August 31. Subsequently, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism requested a report from the VSA.

In response, VSA head Dang Ha Viet reached out to Park with an invitation to negotiate a contract renewal to continue coaching the Vietnam shooting team.

According to VSA reports, there were preliminary oral agreements with Park about planning for the Vietnam shooting team’s next year's activities around the 2024 Paris Olympics.

An invitation for a meeting on August 28 was issued, but a lack of response from Park due to communication issues prevented the meeting.

Park was previously on a $6,000 monthly salary, plus a $300 food allowance. His responsibilities included preparing the Vietnamese team for potential gold medals at the 2026 Asian Games and the 2028 Olympics. However, after a week of consideration, Park decided to decline the offer.

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South Korean expert declines contract renewal due to feeling hurt. Photo: BL

Park expressed feeling hurt by the VSA’s handling of his contract situation, leading to his decision not to renew. "It’s time to say goodbye to everyone. The fond memories of my time in Vietnam will always be in my heart. Regardless of anything, my love for this country will forever remain in my heart," Park wrote in his thank you letter to VSA leadership.

On September 24, the VSA issued a press release stating plans to meet with Park on September 24, 2024, to discuss contract negotiations and future plans for the Vietnam Shooting Team. However, on September 17, 2024, Park notified them of his inability to continue due to personal priorities.

On September 23, the VSA emailed Park expressing a desire to meet in the future and planned a recognition ceremony in Hanoi to honor his contributions to Vietnamese sports.

Park Chung Gun has been instrumental in the Vietnamese shooting team's successes, including notable achievements at the 2016 Rio Olympics with shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh, who won a gold and a silver medal. Recently, at the Paris Olympics, Park coached shooter Trinh Thu Vinh to two final appearances, achieving a fourth-place finish in the women’s 10m air pistol event - the best performance by a Vietnamese female shooter at the Olympics.

In 2023, under Park’s guidance, shooter Pham Quang Vinh secured a gold medal at the 19th Asian Games, marking the first such achievement for Vietnam in this competition and helping the national sports delegation meet its gold medal target.

Dai Nam