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| An Hui-seon, an 81-year-old South Korean volunteer for the Incheon Asian Games, poses with other interpreter volunteers at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range in Incheon. / Korea Times photo by Woo Hae-chung |
By Woo Hae-chung
INCHEON — Some athletes have expressed their plans to gracefully retire after the Incheon Asian Games, and An Hui-seon, an 81-year-old South Korean volunteer for the event, said he knows how they feel as the Asiad on his home soil will be his last as a volunteer.
"I don't think I can wait another four years for the next occasion due to my age. So, I will do my utmost for this Asiad, which likely is to be my last," he said.
He worked for the Japanese public information and cultural center in Korea for 20 years, but after retirement he had long wanted to share what he could do with others.
An unexpected opportunity came his way, as he was able to work as a Korean-Japanese interpreter during the 2002 World Cup co-hosted by Korea and Japan.
"After retirement, I participated in as many international events as I could, of course including those that were held in my own country," An said. "From the 2002 World Cup to the 2014 Incheon Asian Games, I'm proud to have been given opportunities to take part in these great moments."
At the Asiad, he remains on standby at the media conference center to help Japanese reporters communicate with Korean athletes and organizers.
He speaks Japanese well, as he said he learned Japanese while he was attending elementary school during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
"I have tried to contribute my Japanese language ability for the good of my country," said An.
He also seems to find it an interesting experience to work together with young volunteers.
An is often spotted with young volunteers such as Korean-Chinese interpreter and college student Li Si-yu, who is in her 20s.
Both An and Li work on an interpretation team for the shooting games that are being held at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range in Incheon.
Even though there is a huge age gap between them, that doesn't stand between them with regards to teamwork.
The writer is an intern for The Korea Times.
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