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Married couples after Korean Thanksgiving holidays

Posted September. 18, 2016 08:03,   

Updated September. 18, 2016 08:16

한국어

It is no news that divorce rates heighten after the national holidays. Statistics showed that the average number of divorces rose by 8.5 percent when comparing the figures for 2012-2015 Septembers (during the time when there are Korean Thanksgiving holidays) and Octobers. Then how is everyone doing at the time when the national thanksgiving holidays are nearing to an end?

Nearing its closing ceremony on Monday, the 2016 Rio Paralympics was highlighted by the challenging spirits of physically challenged players who overcame their limits. While their stories were rather shone with little interest due to North Korea’s nuclear threats and the recent earthquake, some stories clearly convey the true meaning of human victory and matrimony. The 29-year-old Korean judo player Choi Gwang-geun grabbed his second gold at the Men’s +100kg after the London Paralympics. Right after the awarding ceremony, he immediately ran towards the cheering section, and draped the gold medal to his 37-year-old wife Kwon Hye-jin. As they hugged in tears, they shared the moments saying “thank you for marrying such an imperfect guy,” and “to me, you are a perfect husband than anyone else.”

Choi lost his left eye as he was stabbed by a finger of a training opponent during his high school years. To make matters worse, he suffered from hyperopic astigmatism in his right eye. During the London Paralympics, Choi fell in love with his wife who worked for the Korea Sports Association for the Disabled. However, a marriage between a healthy woman who earned her degrees at the Graduate School of Seoul National University and a physically challenged judo player was met with fierce opposition. Still, they did not back up, and held a small wedding even without a ring in 2015. Choi who couldn’t afford a ring at that time decided to present her with a “golden medal” instead, and eventually kept his promise after going through hard training.

Another bronze medal was added for Korea by the 42-year-old shooter Lee Yoon-ri who seized the 2008 Beijing Paralympics with a Women’s world record. Paralyzed from her waist down after a car accident 20 years ago, she met the same-aged Lee Choon-he, the former Korea Special Forces sniper at a hospital. Lee transferred to shooting rather lately in her career, but it was her husband who was always by her side as a teacher and a mentor. This year’s national holidays may bring disgust to couples who exploded into a serious fight after an accumulated conflict and discord. However, do take a look at the lives of Paralympics players, and recollect those moments when you and your spouse swore to have and to hold in sickness and health. So hateful, but once again!



김순덕 yuri@donga.com