By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Kim Seok-ok, a 54-year-old singer and poetess, has set the world record for the longest singing marathon by a single person, gaining approval from Guinness World Records.
According to the Korea Record Institute (KRI), Kim sang for 76 hours and 7 minutes in February at a karaoke room in Seoul.
``I am glad, as I showed off Korean women's power and challenging sprit to the world,'' Kim said. ``I wish this would give hope and courage to people in these hard times.''
The previous record of 75 hours was set by American Marcus Lapratt in August 2007.
Kim set the record in the same category in February 2002, reaching 59 hours, but Lapratt then surpassed her achievement after just four months.
In her bid to regain the title, Kim sang 1283 songs from 11:14 a.m. on Feb. 18 to 3:21 p.m. on Feb. 21.
According to Guinness World Records rules, she was allowed to take 30-second breaks between songs and five minutes every hour, with the same song not to be repeated within four hours.
The KRI videotaped her challenge and sent it to the world records arbitrator for confirmation. Four months on, Kim has officially been recognized as the record-holder in the singing marathon category.