60thAnni Top 10 most acclaimed moments in 60 years

By Yoon Chul

For Korea, sports have played a major role in encouraging people amid strenuous efforts toward national development and economic growth in the wake of the Korean War.

Korean athletes have made remarkable progress both domestically and internationally including unexpected victories that injected the “can-do” spirit among the people.

Boosted by outstanding performances by athletes, people could regain hope despite being placed in tough situations.

The Korea Times, marking its 60th anniversary, has selected the top 10 most dramatic moments in Korean sports over the past six decades.

1. Korea in top 4 in 2002 World Cup

In 2002 Korea co-hosted the World Cup with Japan. The national team produced a remarkable performance — first by qualifying for the top 16 as Group D leader; then by beating Italy 2-1 to enter the quarterfinals thanks to Ahn Jung-hwan’s golden goal; and finally the semifinals after captain Hong Myung-bo netted a goal as the last kicker in a penalty shoot-out against Spain in the quarterfinal on June 22 after 120-minute extended game. Hong’s smile and celebration was vividly and joyfully engraved in all Koreans’ hearts.

2. Beijing Olympic gold medal in baseball

Baseball is one of most popular sports in Korea. Ahead of the world baseball event in 2008, some powerhouses such as Japan, the United States and Cuba didn’t recognize the ability of Korea, prompting the national team to move their game up a notch at the global event.

Korea advanced to the final without a single defeat by crushing archrival Japan twice — once in the preliminary round and then in the semifinal. In the final match on Aug. 23, Korean lefty ace Ryu Hyun-jin pitched in the ninth with a 3-2 lead against Cuba. But following consecutive controversial calls by the umpire, Ryu stepped down from the mound with the bases loaded and one out.

Korean under-arm closer Chong Tae-hyun generated a ground ball for a double play and the Korean team grabbed gold.

This achievement proved that Korea is a real powerhouse in world baseball.

3. Pak Se-ri wins US Women’s Open

On July 6, 1998 rookie Pak Se-ri became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women’s Open after an 18-hole playoff followed by two sudden-death holes against amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn. As the competition took place in the United States, her extra round for trophy was broadcast at dawn in Korea. The winning putt enthralled the Korean people who were struggling with a financial crisis that needed a bailout program from the International Monetary Fund.

After Pak’s tee shot went into the water-hazard on the 18th hole, she removed her shoes and socks and played from the lie. She made a great approach and sank a 5.5-meter putt for victory.

The win prompted many Korean parents to get their children to take up golf and now the so-called “Seri kids,” including LPGA money leader Shin Ji-yai and No. 2 Choi Na-yeon, dominate the tour.

Pak was most recently named as an entrant to the LPGA Hall of Fame.

4 Park Tae-hwan wins gold medal in Beijing Olympics

For Asians it has been really tough to grab a medal in any swimming event and the toughest is the freestyle due to its demanding physical requirements.

But during the Beijing Olympics on Aug. 10, 2008, the 18-year-old Park managed to grab gold in the men’s 400-meter freestyle with a time of three minutes 41.88 seconds; the first medal ever for Korea in swimming at the Olympics.

5. Yu-na earns gold medal in Vancouver

Figure skating is another sport that had remained less popular among Koreans. Many people remember legendary performances by Katrina Witt of Germany and Michelle Kwan of the United States, but few would have thought that Korea could produce a world class figure skater.

But Kim Yu-na had shone in the Grand Prix before the Olympics and went on to win gold at the Vancouver Olympics with a new record of 228.56 points on Feb. 25 in 2010.

Though Kim was challenged by archrival Mao Asada of Japan, Korean’s zero-defect performance nailed the Japanese.

6. Women’s handball teams grab medals in Olympics

The Korean women’s handball teams have proven their strength with brilliant performances at various Olympic Games.

Though handball is tough for Asians, who are smaller and less powerful than their Western counterparts, the teams have won two gold, three silver and one bronze medal since 1988.

In a game the fast but weak Korean ladies overcame physically superior Western teams thanks to their enthusiasm.

As handball is not a popular sport, the women have yet to receive the limelight; but this is the very reason why their achievement is much more valuable and deserves admiration.

7. Hwang Young-cho wins marathon in 1992 Olympics

In Korea’s sporting history, one of the most impressive scenes was Son Kee-chung winning a gold medal in the marathon in 1936. Unfortunately, he had to run with a Japanese flag on his chest because Korea was then under Japanese colonial rule, and unsurprisingly he failed to smile. More than half a century later, on Aug. 9 in 1992 Hwang Young-cho finally repeated a marathon win for Korea at the Barcelona Olympics with a time of two hours 13 minutes 23 seconds. His achievement reminded Koreans of Son’s regrettable situation and made them proud.

8. Hong Soo-hwan grabs world title with die-hard fighting spirit

In the 1970s one of most popular sports was boxing and Korea produced many world champions including Yoo Myung-woo, Park Chan-hee and Moon Sung-kil among others.

Of all of them, Hong Soo-hwan is remembered the most because he retook the title with knockout after being downed four times in just the second round.

At Panama on Nov. 26 in 1977, Hong fought back against Hector Carrasquilla and successfully took the super bantamweight title.

9. Yang Jung-mo becomes first Korean gold medalist in Olympics wrestling

On Aug. 1 Sunday morning (KST) in 1976, Yang Jung-mo won the men’s 62-kilogram freestyle class in Montreal, marking the first time for the Korean flag to be raised in first place at Olympics and the national anthem to be performed at the venue.

As it happened on Sunday, there were no regular newspapers, but the media published an extra about Yang and all broadcasters interrupted their regular programs to report on the success.

10. Park Chan-ho’s play in MLB makes Koreans happy

Park Chan-ho of the Pittsburgh Pirates will be remembered for his contribution to raising the national image of Korean athletes overseas.

Park headed to the United States to play in Major League Baseball. The first Korean Major Leaguer debuted in 1994, but his heyday began from 1997 when Korea was seeking IMF assistance.

Whenever Park grabbed a victory all Korean fans enjoyed the day talking about his performance and when he performed badly, they also felt discouraged.

As Park became one of the best starters in the rotation with more than 10 victories every year from 1997 to 2001 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, he symbolized the dreams and hopes of many Korean people.

Park has piled 124 victories so far in MLB and he led Korea to top 4 in the 1st World Baseball Classic in 2006 and bronze medal in Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Additionally...

Among other candidates — Beijing Olympic weightlifting gold medalist Jang Mi-ran; Yang Yong-eun who became the first Korean and Asian to win the PGA Championship, one of four PGA major opens; and the Korean national baseball team’s top 4 and runner-up finishes in the first and second World Baseball Classic and a victory in the U-17 Women’s World Cup, respectively, were also strong candidates.

yc@koreatimes.co.kr