Kang Ki-seok
Kang Ki-seok | |
---|---|
강기석 | |
Born | September 10, 1978 |
Disappeared | October 18, 2011 Annapurna |
Citizenship | Korean |
Occupation(s) | Alpinist, Manager of a mountaineering gear distributor |
Known for | Climbing partner of Park Young-seok |
Kang Ki-seok (Korean: 강기석; September 10, 1978 – October 18, 2011 ) was a South Korean mountaineer.
Biography
[edit]Kang Ki-seok graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Andong National University in 2006.
In 2010, Korean alpinist Park Young-seok organized an alpine-style attempt on an unclimbed line in Annapurna between two pillars established by previous British and Japanese expeditions. That year, Kang Ki-seok accompanied Park on an attempt at Annapurna.[1] It was unsuccessful, and the climbers vowed to return the next year.
In 2011, while pioneering the 'Korea New Route' on the south face of Annapurna, Kang and expedition partners Park Young-seok and Shin Dong-min were lost on the mountain.[2][3]
The Korean Alpine Federation dispatched a rescue team of five Koreans and fourteen Sherpas and made all-out efforts to rescue them.[2] The rescue effort later had to be dissolved weeks later due to weather conditions on the mountain.[4][5]
In 2012, a new expedition organized by the Korean Alpine Federation returned to search for the missing climbers.[6] No trace of the missing climbers has been found.[7] A subsequent expedition in 2016 was again unsuccessful.[8]
A joint funeral was held at Seoul National University Hospital[9] on November 4, 2011 with hundreds in attendance.[2] Kang was posthumously awarded the Order of Sports Merit, Geojang Medal by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Climbing career
[edit]- 2003: West Face of Lhotse (8,516m)
- 2006: South Face of Lhotse (8,516m)[10]
- 2008: Gasherbrum II (8,035m)
- 2008: South West Face of Everest (8,848m)
- 2009: Everest (8,848m) South West Face Korean New Route[11]
- 2010: Annapurna, abandoned at 6100m due to weather
- 2011: Annapurna
Awards
[edit]- Order of Sports Merit, Geojang Medal
References
[edit]- ^ "Famous Korean mountaineer disappears". services.thebmc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ a b c Coley, Mariah (2011-11-10). "Koreans Missing on Annapurna Presumed Dead". Alpinist. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Renowned South Korean climber missing on Nepal trek". Arab News. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Memorial for S. Korean climbers lost on Annapurna". Yahoo News. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Daily, The Chosun (2024-02-27). "Search for Lost Mountaineers Ends". The Chosun Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Search for lost climbers in Himalayas to resume". The Korea Times. 2012-08-07. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ Herald, Korea (2012-08-23). "Conditions slow search for lost mountaineers". The Korea Herald. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Son to search for father's body on Annapurna". The Korea Times. 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "Missing mountaineers sent off in solemn ceremony". The Korea Times. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "AAC Publications - Asia, Nepal, Mahalangur Himal—Khumbu Section, Lhotse South Face, Winter Ascent". publications.americanalpineclub.org. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
- ^ "AAC Publications - Everest (8,850m), Southwest Face, Park's Korean Route". publications.americanalpineclub.org. Retrieved 2024-07-31.