Even one month after former Asian Games swimming gold medalist Cho Oh-ryun died of a heart attack aged 56, he still remains technically alive ― at least on paper.
His family hasn't reported his death to a district office because of a debt he left unpaid, according to a local magazine.
After his abrupt and unexpected death, Cho reportedly left a debt of about 100 million won ($83,000) he tapped to cover the costs for his foiled dream of swimming across the Straits of Korea.
According to family members, the moment Cho is registered as dead, the bank to which he owes the money will automatically seize ownership of his house on the southern tip of the peninsula he provided as collateral for the loan. His wife is currently living in the house in Haenam, South Jeolla Province.
Cho had to raise the necessary funds on his own as he failed to secure sponsorship for the event. When he was preparing for the event, his monthly income was only about 500,000 won, the sort of pension he received from the government for research activities.
He traversed the Straits of Korea, estimated at some 200 kilometers, in 1980 and crossed the Straits of Dover, at 35 kilometers, in 1982. To honor the 30th anniversary of his crossing of the Straits next year, Cho planned to repeat the feat.
Cho, dubbed as "Asia's Seal," won two gold medals in the 400- and 1,500-meter freestyles at the Bangkok Asian Games in 1970, and repeated the feat at the 1974 Games held in Tehran, Iran.