Kim Hui Jin picked out Pak Yong Sun and coached her to rise to the peak of the world table tennis. Pak shook the world table tennis circles in the 1970s and won the titles of Labour Hero and People’s Athlete.
Kim was active as a table tennis player at the Korean People’s Army Sports Club in the 1950s and began to work as a table tennis coach at the then February 8 Sports Club in 1960. He selected Pak Yong Sun, a schoolgirl in Sakju, and helped her win the 33rd World Table Tennis Championships.
Working as the women’s table tennis head coach of the national team and secretary general of the DPRK table tennis association, he led the Korean table tennis players to achieve remarkable successes in the Asian and world table tennis championships in the 1980s and 1990s. In recognition of his distinguished services, the state awarded him the titles of Merited Athlete and People’s Athlete in succession.
He was honoured to meet and have a photo taken with President Kim Il Sung in March 1975 and to attend the Seventh National Conference of Sportspersons and have a photo session with the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un in March 2015.
He also served as a member of the board of directors of the International Table Tennis Federation and the first vice-chairman of the then Asian table tennis confederation.
DPRK Players Return Home
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 7th Senior and Junior TrampolineAsian Championships and the 2nd Asian
June 01, 2026
DPRK players returned home after taking part in the 7th Senior and Junior TrampolineAsian Championships and the 2nd Asian
