A Taekwon-Doist stood on the winner’s rostrum at the 10th ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships held in Russia in 1997 amid warm applause from experts and fans. Though she sustained an arm injury during her first match in the women’s 63kg-category individual sparring, she managed to advance to the finals and finally won a gold medal. She was Kim Yong Sun (pictured) from the DPRK.
As she played the difficult first match against a German due to a fracture of the right humerus, spectators thought she would be unable to have the next bout.
However, she defeated all the opponents with her arm injured, making a deep impression on everyone.
“None of us could even imagine her advancing to the finals with the injury. What amazed even us men were her great mental strength, high sense of game play, outstanding physical abilities and remarkable skills,” said People’s Athlete Jong Hwi Song who accompanied her to the championships at that time.
Born in Huichon of Jagang Province, she acquired basic skills of Taekwon-Do faster than others and distinguished herself in sparring in particular.
She made her international debut at the 8th ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in her teens and bagged four golds including the one for the 58kg-category individual sparring. Afterwards, she won all the individual and team events at the 1st ITF Asia-Pacific Taekwon-Do Championships.
She took the world championship for the third time at the 63kg-category individual sparring of the 11th ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in Argentina in 1999.
She snatched a total of 18 gold medals in individual and team events during her playing career.
The seventh-dan Taekwon-Do master is People’s Athlete and a Class-A international referee.
She is now instructing girls in the Korean martial art at the Mangyongdae Schoolchildren’s Palace.
“I will devote my all to imbuing schoolchildren with the soul and spirit of Taekwon-Do, a traditional martial art of our nation,” said Kim Yong Sun.
More From Pyongyang Times
The delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation left Pyongyang for home on March 25 after visiting the DPRK on
March 27, 2024
The delegation of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation left Pyongyang for home on March 25 after visiting the DPRK on
The legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China adopted the national security regulations with
March 27, 2024
The legislative council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China adopted the national security regulations with
Some time ago the State Council of China published the water saving regulations. The regulations reviewed the rich practical
March 27, 2024
Some time ago the State Council of China published the water saving regulations. The regulations reviewed the rich practical
The hexagonal seven-storey pagoda at the Hongbok Temple is a historical relic located in Taesong-dong of Taesong District,
March 27, 2024
The hexagonal seven-storey pagoda at the Hongbok Temple is a historical relic located in Taesong-dong of Taesong District,
Food prices are soaring in the world market and many countries are now facing severe famine, which constitutes a serious problem
March 27, 2024
Food prices are soaring in the world market and many countries are now facing severe famine, which constitutes a serious problem
The Chinese deputy permanent representative to the United Nations appealed to the international community to ease the humanitarian
March 27, 2024
The Chinese deputy permanent representative to the United Nations appealed to the international community to ease the humanitarian
A meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 25 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Architects
March 27, 2024
A meeting took place at the People's Palace of Culture in Pyongyang on March 25 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Architects
Jo Yong Won, Pak Jong Chon, Ri Il Hwan, Kang Sun Nam and Choe Son Hui, leading officials of the Central Committee of the Workers'
March 27, 2024
Jo Yong Won, Pak Jong Chon, Ri Il Hwan, Kang Sun Nam and Choe Son Hui, leading officials of the Central Committee of the Workers'
On the occasion of the school-supporting month of March, an educational aid exhibition took place in North Hwanghae Province.
March 27, 2024
On the occasion of the school-supporting month of March, an educational aid exhibition took place in North Hwanghae Province.
Working as the manager of the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory for over 20 years, Kim Hye Yong contributed her knowledge and enthusiasm
March 27, 2024
Working as the manager of the Sinuiju Cosmetics Factory for over 20 years, Kim Hye Yong contributed her knowledge and enthusiasm
Player who hardly smiles Kim Il Gyong, who was chosen as one of the top ten players of the DPRK in 2023 again after 2022, is a
March 26, 2024
Player who hardly smiles Kim Il Gyong, who was chosen as one of the top ten players of the DPRK in 2023 again after 2022, is a
On March 20, the State Duma of Russia adopted an appeal of the Russian Federation Council to the UN and international parliamentar
March 26, 2024
On March 20, the State Duma of Russia adopted an appeal of the Russian Federation Council to the UN and international parliamentar
Making the rounds of Changde City of Hunan Province on March 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to ensure food
March 26, 2024
Making the rounds of Changde City of Hunan Province on March 19, Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the need to ensure food
Kim Song Nam, alternate member of the Political Bureau and director of the International Department of the Central Committee of
March 26, 2024
Kim Song Nam, alternate member of the Political Bureau and director of the International Department of the Central Committee of
The Korean Central News Agency on March 16 released a detailed report on the successful construction of the Kangdong Greenhouse
March 26, 2024
The Korean Central News Agency on March 16 released a detailed report on the successful construction of the Kangdong Greenhouse
A ballet performance by the art troupe of the Maritime Territory Branch of the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia has been given at the
March 26, 2024
A ballet performance by the art troupe of the Maritime Territory Branch of the Mariinsky Theatre of Russia has been given at the
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, paid an unofficial
March 26, 2024
Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, paid an unofficial
A large-scale terror attack occurred at a theatre on the outskirts of Moscow in Russia, causing many casualties, on March 22. That
March 25, 2024
A large-scale terror attack occurred at a theatre on the outskirts of Moscow in Russia, causing many casualties, on March 22. That
A meeting of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea (DFRK) took place in Pyongyang on March
March 25, 2024
A meeting of the Central Committee of the Democratic Front for the Reunification of Korea (DFRK) took place in Pyongyang on March
Kim Song Nam, alternate member of the Political Bureau and director of the International Department of the Central Committee of
March 25, 2024
Kim Song Nam, alternate member of the Political Bureau and director of the International Department of the Central Committee of
More Articles