Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Korea Times photojournalist wins award
“Football coach Son Woong-jung, 'Modesty is my strength.'” A photo by Korea Times photographer Choi Won-suk topped the Best Portrait Photo category at the 258th monthly press photo contest hosted by the Korea Press Photographers' Association (KPPA), Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
By Lee Hae-rin
By Lee Hae-rin
Korea Times photojournalist Choi Won-suk won an award at a monthly press photo contest hosted by the Korea Press Photographers Association (KPPA), Wednesday.
Choi Won-suk / Korea Times file photo
Featuring football coach Son Woong-jung, the father of Tottenham Hotspur striker Son Heung-min, the photo titled, “Football coach Son Woong-jung, 'Modesty is my strength,'” topped the Best Portrait Photo category in the KPPA's 258th monthly contest, among the works of some 500 of its members.
The award-winning work of Choi, published on July 19, captures football coach Son tying his shoelace before a training session with young athletes begins at his Son Football Academy in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
Under the belief that a good football field is like a safe and solid home for athletes, Son built the 66,000-square-meter football utopia to pass on his knowhow and expertise and nurture the next generation of Korean footballers.
As an educator, Son focuses on mastering the basics while cultivating diligence and modesty. He serves himself as an example of his teaching by participating in every training session.
Apart from being a junior football coach, Son diligently devotes himself to maintaining an orderly and clean life space, is an avid reader and adheres to a philosophy of keeping possessions to a minimum. While living in Germany and in the United Kingdom to support his son's athletic career, he only brought with him a light suitcase consisting of some sportswear clothes and books.
The KPPA gives awards in five other categories: news, sports, feature, nature and story.
This is Choi's 13th award from the KPPA since joining The Korea Times in 2014.