[Comprehensive] "Return with Fighting Spirit" Captain Kim Hong-bin Missing... Prayers for 'Safe Return' Continue

Missing While Descending from Broad Peak
Lost All Ten Fingers in 1991 Accident
Climbed Highest Peaks of Seven Continents Despite Disability
Also Volunteered for Physical and Mental Training of Disabled People

Photo taken after Captain Kim Hong-bin, the 'mountaineer without ten fingers,' successfully summited Broad Peak (8047m) on the 18th (local time) / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Captain Kim Hong-bin (57), the "mountaineer without ten fingers," who was the first disabled person to successfully summit all 14 peaks of the Himalayas, has reportedly gone missing during his descent. Political circles are sending messages wishing for his safe return.

Park Yong-jin, a presidential pre-candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, wrote on his Facebook on the 20th, "I earnestly pray for Captain Kim Hong-bin's safe return. He is a person with an indomitable will who overcame the difficulties of disability and became the first disabled person in the world to summit the highest peaks of the seven continents," adding, "With that fighting spirit, I pray together with many citizens that he will surely come back safely."

Lee Yong-bin, a Democratic Party lawmaker whose constituency is Gwangju, where Captain Kim held his launch ceremony, also expressed his sorrow on Facebook, saying, "Tonight, your prayers are desperately needed."

He continued, "I was very excited by the joyful news this morning that Kim Hong-bin, the pride of Gwangju and the hope of Korea, had succeeded in climbing all 14 peaks of the Himalayas, but upon hearing the tragic news of his disappearance during descent, I am at a loss for words and everything looks dark."

He added, "It is midnight in the Himalayas now," and lamented, "All I can do for my friend fighting the cold is pray, which is very heartbreaking."

According to multiple media reports, on the 18th (local time), Captain Kim summited Broad Peak (8,047m), the third highest peak in the Karakoram range in northeastern Kashmir, Pakistan-administered territory. With this, Captain Kim achieved the remarkable feat of becoming the first disabled person to complete all 14 Himalayan summits, but he became stranded during the descent.

President Moon Jae-in's post on the 19th congratulating General Kim on his successful climb / Photo by Facebook capture

Earlier in Korea, it was mistakenly reported that Captain Kim had been safely rescued and was descending after being stranded.

In this regard, President Moon Jae-in posted on his social media account on the 19th, "I was very worried upon hearing that contact was lost during the descent, but I am relieved to hear that he arrived safely at the camp with the help of the Italian climbing team," and urged, "I hope he returns in good health."

However, it was later reported that after Captain Kim sent a distress call, the overseas climbing team found the stranded site but failed to rescue him.

Meanwhile, Captain Kim became a mountaineer after joining his university's mountaineering club in 1983. In 1991, while attempting a solo climb of Denali (6,194m), the highest peak in North America, he had an accident and suffered severe frostbite, resulting in the amputation of all ten fingers.

Despite losing all his fingers, Captain Kim continued to pursue mountaineering. Six years after the accident, from 1997 to 2009, over 13 years, he successfully summited the highest peaks on all seven continents.

Captain Kim also established the nonprofit organization "Kim Hong-bin and Making Hope" to help train the minds and bodies of people with disabilities like himself.

In an interview with a media outlet in May before climbing Broad Peak, he emphasized, "Although the treatment of disabled people has improved compared to the past, they are still restricted in social participation and various fields. There is an increasing tendency toward loss of motivation, lethargy, and dependence on help," adding, "That is why I walk trails with neighbors such as disabled people and youth to create small sparks of hope."