Kim Un-yong, a South Korean member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), was elected Friday as vice president of the world sports body at its general assembly in Prague.

Kim, who served as a vice president from 1992-96, is due to take over the senior post from Australia's Kevan Gosper until 2007.

However, Kim's election has already sparked controversy, as he had strongly denied running for the IOC's No. 2 job in a series of interviews with local dailies, including one in Prague as recently as Monday.

Kim Yong-Hak, national assembly member representing Pyeongchang, suggested that Kim's election as vice-president was a main cause for the South Korean city's recent failure in obtaining the right to host the 2010 Winter Olympics.