Pure Spirit

Choi Should Be Remembered for Sacrifice for Peace

It is very moving that a severely disabled man, Choi Chang-hyun, finally succeeded in realizing a seemingly impossible goal of traversing 26,000 kilometers across 32 countries in Europe. Choi arrived in Berlin Aug. 15, Liberation Day, putting an end to his 15 months-long challenge. He has had to operate his wheelchair with his mouth as he cannot use his arms and legs. His journey will be listed in the Guinness World Records in the category of automotive wheelchair marathon as Choi was proved to have gained the longest miles by operating the wheelchair at speeds of up to 13 kilometers per hour.

Choi said he has been pressing ahead with the mission for the sake of a peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula. Despite mounting difficulties he never gave up and continued to impress disabled people with his conviction that nothing is impossible with hope and strong will. In a statement at the Berlin Wall, he said, ``Despite the global village era, Korea has remained the only divided nation in the world. I earnestly hope the barbed wire separating South and North Korea will disappear as the Berlin Wall crumbled.'' He went on to say that he came to overcome the hardship with pride as a Korean, irrespective of his physical handicap.

Due to a lack of financial support, Choi suffered from hardship. Despite sporadic assistance from Korean communities in Europe, he frequently found shelter and food by knocking on the doors of churches, cathedrals and homes. Sometimes he starved and had to eat only one ``cup ramen'' all day long. Choi failed to get direly needed physiotherapy as his body stiffened and hurt especially when the weather turned cold.

For Choi physiotherapy seemed to be luxury. He had to worry about what to eat and where to sleep.

In recognition of his relentless challenge toward a pure purpose, Pope Benedict XVI received him at the Vatican to encourage him. His crusade has moved many people in Europe. Local newspapers in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Estonia and Hungary carried articles on his journey as did a broadcaster in Greece. England's ITV also covered him in a prime time slot. The Korea Times also covered Choi's story last November based on an hours-long interview with him. But before then, Choi scarcely got media attention.

Albeit belatedly, many major local newspapers and broadcasters have begun to show interest in Choi's project. Choi is determined to push his challenge of crossing the 20,000km-long Asian continent from Turkey to Korea via India and China. He has already traversed the United States and Japan in 2001, and 2003, respectively. Choi's dream is to bring hope to physically challenged people like him so that they can also do something worthwhile.

We admire Choi's pure spirit and courage to overcome his physical handicaps against all odds. People are asked to have more interest in and support Choi in his pursuit of further projects. The Unification Ministry and the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry should pay more heed to Choi's case so that he can achieve his goals in a more convenient and safer way.