Nepal Ass`n Recognizes Oh`s Setting of World Mark

The Nepal Mountaineering Association has recognized Korean mountaineer Oh Eun-sun as the world’s first woman to conquer the 14 highest mountains in the Himalayas.

The Associated Press Thursday quoted Ang Tshering Sherpa, president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, as saying, “We recognize her achievement as the first woman climber to scale all the highest mountains in the world. We are all happy and proud of her achievement.”

Oh`s rival Edurne Pasaban of Spain questioned whether the Korean made it to the top of the 8,586 meter-high Kanchenjunga in May last year, but the association said Oh set the mark.

Established in 1973, the Nepal Mountaineering Association is a nonprofit organization that governs mountain climbing in the Himalayan nation and is a major member of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation.

Despite gaining recognition from the association, however, Oh needs to get verification from Elizabeth Hawley, an American former journalist and chronicler of Himalayan expeditions who lives in Nepal.

kimsk@donga.com