Marathon Phenom Proves His Prominence

In a half marathon race held in Japan, Eom Hyo-seok (23, Samsung Electronics), the hope of Korean marathon running, finished the race in under an hour and three minutes.

After graduating from Konkuk University, Eom recently became a member of Samsung Electronics’ marathon team. In the 2007 Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon (21.0975km), held on February 4 in Marugame City, Kagawa Prefecture, Eom finished the race in one hour, two minutes and 36 seconds, taking 10th place.

His record is second in Korea’s athletic history only to Lee Bong-ju’s (37, Samsung Electronics) Korean record of 1:01:04. It is the first time in 13 years that a Korean marathoner has finished a half race under an hour and three minutes, ever since Kim Jae-ryong (41, coach of Korea Electronic Power Corporation) finished in 1:02:45 in 1994.

Meanwhile, Lee Bong-ju, in a rehearsal race for the 2007 Seoul International Marathon, finished 37th (1:04:02), and Jeon Eun-hoi (19), a youngster graduating high school and entering Konkuk University this spring, finished 29th (1:03:40).

yjongk@donga.com