A Korean member of the International Olympic Committee, who also heads the International Judo Federation (IJF), plans to bow out of the world sports scene.

The Doosan Group said that Park Yong-sung, chairman of Doosan Heavy Industries, will soon announce his voluntary resignation from the top post of the judo federation.

In a statement issued Friday, Park said that paying heed to demands from IJF members for changes, he has decided to resign as the organization's president.

The statement said his resignation will help prevent rifts within the IJF and give fresh momentum for the development of world judo.

Mr. Park has been under pressure from European countries to resign. He has served as head of the world governing body of judo since 1995, and his current and third term expires in 2009.

If he steps down from the judo post, he will automatically lose his membership on the International Olympic Committee.

Currently, he is one of two South Koreans on the 115-member committee.