National marathon runner Lee Bong-ju, nicknamed ‘Bongdali’. He was born with the worst physical condition as an athlete, flat-footed and paired with right and left feet of different sizes. Being a pair, he overcame the physical limitation of the right foot twisting slightly outward when running, and became a world-class marathoner, and along with Ki-Jeong Son and Young-Jo Hwang, he is our hero who instilled a deep sense of self-esteem in the hearts of the Korean people.

​

Born in a poor farmhouse in Cheonan, he had nothing but poverty, and his elementary school dream was to be a soccer player. However, due to difficult family circumstances, he gives up on his dream. After entering middle school, I wanted to play baseball, but I entered athletics, where it doesn't cost a lot to buy the equipment needed to exercise. He appeared like a comet when he won the 1993 National Sports Festival marathon in 2:10:27. Bong-ju Lee received full-scale training as a marathon runner, and it was after meeting the master coach Jeong Bong-soo. However, he also faced trials several times, and each time he overcame it with his fortitude and proved his worth.

​

From the silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics to the gold medal at the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, he set a new Korean record at the Tokyo International Marathon in February 2000 at 2:07:20. Then, he continued his endless winning streak until he won the Boston Marathon in 2001, the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, and the Seoul International Marathon in 2007, bringing infinite joy and emotion to the people. By the time he retired in 2009, he completed 41 full marathons, a record that cannot be surpassed. I also remember watching the Boston Marathon and cheering without taking my eyes off the screen for a moment.

​

Bongdal runs about 2000km in preparation for a competition. From three months before the race, run an average of 20 km or more per day, and a maximum of 40 km per day. With this training, you can run at a speed of 20 km/h without getting tired of the full course. The Korean best record of 2 hours 7 minutes 20 seconds set in 2000 by Lee Bong-ju came out through this training process.

​

Our Bongdal-i is an athlete who overcomes the human limit of 42.195km and has a rough personality, but he is a player with a warm sensibility who adopts a nephew, the son of his wife's brother, who died in an unexpected accident and raises him like a child. .

This Korean marathon legend, Bongdali, has been unable to straighten her back due to extreme pain of unknown cause since last year, making people around her sad. Currently, it is difficult to even move without the help of a wheelchair and cane. When you walk, you have to be supported because of the excruciating pain, and even if you walk even a little, you breathe hard as if you were running a marathon. It is known as an incurable disease that shows muscle abnormalities such as twisted muscles or twisted neck regardless of one's will.

​

In order to save our hero Bongdal, who seemed like he would never fall down like Ottugi, he formed a support group in his hometown of Cheonan. In addition, Cheonan City Athletic Association hosts a marathon in the name of Bong Dal, and many people are stepping out to help. In the 2000 Sydney Marathon, at the 15km mark, he fell tangled with his opponent and gave up, but Bongdal rose again and crossed the finish line in 24th place. When trials come, Bongdal, who has lived happily ever after.

A simple smile and a beard that looks like a manly man. The indomitable spirit that has touched the hearts of the people for a long time with his charismatic and reliable figure emanating from his short stature. I sincerely hope that he will overcome the disease as soon as possible and rise up and show his running again for nurturing juniors and revitalizing the Korean marathon.

​

Min Byeong-soo, CEO of MIT Co., Ltd. New Korean intellectual

​

Copyright holder © Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution of Ulsan Cheilbo is prohibited

Copyright ©Ulsan Cheilbo all rights