[So Jong-seop's Sokterview] Um Hong-gil "At One Moment, I Saw the World Below the Mountain and Its People"

Request to inscribe "Eom Hong-gil was a mountain" on tombstone
The person I miss most is my mother who passed away earlier this year
Completed 16 Human Schools in Nepal, also built a hospital

Climbing mountains over 8,000 meters is a challenge against uncertainty. No one knows what will happen. Clear weather can suddenly turn cloudy and unleash a snowstorm. Strong winds may blow unexpectedly, contrary to forecasts. Recently, our economic situation has been similar. With many variables, it is difficult to predict stably. In this respect, the economy and mountaineering resemble each other these days.

Entering the office of the Um Hong-gil Human Foundation (Human Foundation, Chairman Lee Jae-hoo) in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, staff were coming and going. This is because Commander Um Hong-gil, the executive director, was departing for Nepal the next day (24th). Feeling sorry to interrupt during a busy time, I hesitated to conduct an interview. However, the moment I faced Commander Um’s bright face, my worries disappeared. There stood the hero of South Korea who succeeded in summiting all 16 peaks over 8,000 meters in the Himalayas.

Commander Um experienced two great pains this year. In January, he lost his mother who loved him more than anyone else. In April, Hong Ok-seon, the secretary general who had served for 15 years since the Human Foundation’s establishment in 2008, passed away in an unfortunate accident during a climb. Changes in life lead to changes in thought, and changes in thought manifest as changes in action. On May 23 at 4 p.m., I felt this from Commander Um when we met at the Human Foundation office.

I met Captain Um Hong-gil, who serves as the Executive Director of the Um Hong-gil Human Foundation, at the Human Foundation office in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Huh Young-han younghan@

Why are you going to Nepal? Is it for building the Human School?

No. In 2015, there was an earthquake in Nepal. About 9,000 people died and the property damage was enormous. At that time, I served as the leader of the Korean Red Cross emergency relief team and was dispatched to the site for about two weeks to conduct relief activities. The day before returning home, while having a meal and a cup of tea with advisory members of the Human Foundation’s Nepal branch, one attendee said that temples in the Everest region were also damaged and were on the verge of collapse. I was shocked. I hurriedly took a helicopter to the site and saw that it was really serious. It stayed on my mind, so I promised to rebuild on the spot.

So you built a temple?

At the groundbreaking ceremony, a rainbow appeared over the mountain in front, and everyone was amazed. With the help of the Korean Buddhist community, we built it beautifully. As word spread, other temples requested dormitories for novice monks, so we collaborated with the Jogye Order Central Lay Association to build those as well. This time, I am going to Nepal to attend the completion ceremony.

How have you been lately?

I have been spending time with the Human Foundation’s regular hiking activities, building schools in Nepal, and various lectures and TV appearances.

How often do you give lectures?

Recently, I gave a lecture at Buk-gu Office in Daegu. I receive many requests, but I cannot do them all. First, the schedule must fit, and I consider whether I must do it and if it has meaning before deciding.

What is the main topic of your lectures?

I mainly talk about the feelings of success and failure experienced while facing life and death during my challenge to the 16 peaks over 8,000 meters. I try to give courage and hope to listeners by vividly sharing the indomitable challenge process I experienced on site.

When giving lectures, do you get a sense of “Ah, this is what people want to hear”?

I don’t teach theory and pass it on to others. I convey what I experienced firsthand, risking my life and crossing life and death. Because it is impactful and vivid, the emotional response from listeners seems greater. I especially feel rewarded when I go to military units and inspire young people with courage and confidence.

Captain Um Hong-gil is also dedicated to connecting with young people. Scene from the 11th inauguration ceremony of the Gangbuk-gu Youth Hope Expedition. Source=Um Hong-gil Human Foundation

I heard you recently held the Youth Hope Expedition launch ceremony.

This is the 11th group. It is the Gangbuk-gu Youth Hope Expedition. We go hiking once a month with second-year middle school students in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. Through hiking, we try to cultivate broad-mindedness, a spirit of challenge, perseverance, and cooperation. By the time they complete the program after a year, the children noticeably change from when they started. The positive effects increase with each session. Instead of telling them theoretically what to do, we try to naturally instill hope and a spirit of challenge in the future generation through experience.

Commander Um has faced life-and-death situations several times while climbing the Himalayas. You often say, “There must be a reason why heaven saved me.” What do you think your purpose is?

I achieved my earnest wish of summiting all 16 peaks over 8,000 meters in the Himalayas. I should have been buried there too... God fulfilled my dream. I believe God said, “It’s not your time yet. You still have work to do. Since I granted your wish, please fulfill mine. Live by sharing 100% of what you received.”

Should this be seen as the enlightenment the Himalayas gave you?

Yes. I received enlightenment. I vowed not to live enjoying it alone but to live sharing and serving while alive. Before, I climbed recklessly focusing only on the summit and then moved on to the next mountain. At some point, I stopped seeing only the mountain and began to see the world below the mountain. I saw the world of people. Even before, I passed through villages and people while climbing, but I did so without enlightenment.

Various cards and photos related to Captain Eom are displayed in the Human Foundation office. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

Is that why you established the Human School?

Yes. Before, I thought only about mountains and immersed myself in climbing. But at some point, I began to see again the world of the people inside, the children growing in that world. I saw that they lived in extremely poor conditions, without dreams, trapped in poverty inherited from their parents. Giving these children food or clothes is temporary help, not sustainable. They need to learn. They need enlightenment. So with that earnestness, we started building schools in 2008.

How many schools have you built in Nepal?

We have completed 16 schools. Three are under construction. Due to high demand, some expansions are underway, and because of a shortage of teachers, the Human Foundation directly hired 13 teachers. We also built a hospital so Sherpas injured during climbs can receive treatment. We provide monthly scholarships to nine Nepalese children who were injured while climbing with our Korean team. So I have to raise a lot of donations. (Haha)

Phrumbu Human School located at the eastern end of Nepal. It is the 12th school completed in Nepal. Source=Eom Hong-gil Human Foundation

Do you plan to build more schools? Any plans?

No plans. Originally, since I summited 16 peaks in the Himalayas, I thought I should build about 16 schools. Honestly, when I started, I worried if I could really do it. The same goes for summiting the 16 peaks. I liked mountains, liked the Himalayas, and as I gained experience, I thought I could do it and challenged myself. The Human School is the same. I didn’t start with a fixed plan. I started without money. I didn’t know if I could do it or how many years it would take. But progress was faster than expected. Unexpected sponsors appeared as I went along.

The number of hikers has increased, especially among the 20s and 30s generation.

It’s a good phenomenon. Personally, it’s good for health, and nationally, it saves medical costs. If the people are healthy, the country itself becomes healthy.

What would you say to the 20s and 30s generation who love hiking?

First, you must have a love for nature. Only then can you communicate with the mountain when climbing, and even if it’s hard, it will have a good effect on you. If you climb unwillingly or because of others, it becomes poison instead. Also, when climbing, always have a humble and modest heart. Never be arrogant about your physical strength and climb up and down without causing harm. We are not the owners. Nature itself is the owner. We are just briefly entering someone else’s home, not our own.

The words about always having a humble and modest heart really resonate.

The moment you become greedy or arrogant, accidents happen. When greedy, even difficult things seem easy. In the Himalayas, dangerous sections may not be recognized as dangerous, and you might just climb recklessly, risking avalanches or falls, or get caught in hidden crevasses. Since it’s a life-and-death process, you must be very cautious and humble. This mindset and attitude are important not only when hiking but also in living life.

I’m curious about your leadership style. What is the core of ‘Um Hong-gil Leadership’?

When on an expedition, the leader’s role is absolute. Team members just need to do their roles diligently, but the leader must oversee everything in detail. Only then can everything be executed and progressed. You must be very cool-headed and quick in judgment. Also, if the first plan fails, you must be prepared with alternatives up to the third option. Because many times things don’t go as planned. You never know when, where, or how natural changes on the mountain will occur. You must adapt immediately and respond to problems at the next stage. Quick response ability, judgment, and a spirit of sacrifice are necessary.

Welcome poster posted on the door of the Human Foundation office in Samcheong-dong, Seoul. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

That sounds like the leadership needed for leaders in today’s economic crisis.

There is that aspect. The economy is also an unstable situation where unpredictable crises can come anytime. So you must always have several alternatives prepared as a contingency and be ready to substitute.

When living such a busy life, there must be moments when you want to give up because it’s hard.

Yes. The Human Foundation has no fixed assets. We don’t spend from a budget. We have to fundraise. When money comes in, we immediately spend it. Anyway, doing anything requires money, so I always have to meet people. You can’t do it just by phone; you have to meet face to face, have meals, and even a drink. Besides foundation work, I have to handle personal livelihood matters. It’s hectic. Yet when I hear complaints like “You don’t answer calls well,” I feel hurt. Sometimes I wonder if I should be making such desperate pleas. The psychological pressure is great. That’s stress.

What do you do at such times?

When I go to Nepal, a work of art is being created. There is a reality, and seeing children, parents, and teachers happy and pleased there fills me with energy. I return with confidence.

If you could meet one person right now, who would it be?

(Commander Um was silent for a while) My mother passed away earlier this year. She was 84 and passed suddenly. My father passed away in 1999, just before I set out on a Himalayan expedition. As the eldest son, I didn’t care about family affairs and was obsessed with climbing, so my father was displeased with me. My mother was different. She was always on my side. At that time, in my heart, I thought, “Father, I’m sorry. Though I am unfilial like this, there will be a day when I succeed. Then you will acknowledge me and understand why I climbed mountains like crazy.”

My father did not live to see my records and passed away early. On the other hand, my mother saw my achievements and was happy. While they were alive, I felt gratitude and thanks, but I don’t think I had a desperate feeling that they must be alive. Looking back, I think I could have done better for them and that I was too lacking. These days, the poetry of Songgang Jeongcheol feels very poignant: “Serve your parents fully while they live. After they pass, how can you bear the sorrow? Is there anything in life that cannot be corrected?” This year, Secretary General Hong Ok-seon also passed away... It’s hard and painful in many ways.

How do you want to be remembered later? What would you want written on your tombstone?

“Um Hong-gil was a mountain.” That explains everything. A person who embraced and accepted everything like a mountain. There are differences between high mountains, low mountains, and trails, but mountains accept everyone regardless of gender, age, or class. A drop of water flows down the valley, through rivers, to the sea, and the sea accepts and embraces everything. Mountains are the same. Yet mountains are always new. Even the mountain you go to every day feels new each time. When feeling frustrated and hopeless, going to the mountain, being in nature, just washes everything away. The tangled threads that wouldn’t unravel loosen, and you find a direction.

Captain Um Hong-gil standing on the summit of Annapurna in 1999. Source=Um Hong-gil Human Foundation

[Who is Um Hong-gil?]

He is South Korea’s representative mountaineer. Born in 1960 in Goseong, Gyeongnam. He graduated from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Kyung Hee University Graduate School. He was the first in the world to summit all 16 peaks over 8,000 meters in the Himalayas. He has received numerous awards and honors, including the Korea Mountaineering Award, Manhae Award, and the Blue Dragon Sports Medal. In 2008, he launched the Um Hong-gil Human Foundation, building Human Schools in Nepal and providing scholarships. He is also active in youth activities such as the Youth Hope Expedition and youth climbing competitions. His books include and .