"Defeated by Korea"... North Korean Judo Athlete Wins Silver Medal but Sent to Coal Mine

1991 Defection Story of Lee Chang-su
Escaped the Mine and Risked Life to Defect with Jang Song-taek's Help

The life-risking defection story of North Korean judo athlete Lee Chang-su, who suffered the humiliation of being dragged to a coal mine despite winning a silver medal in the final of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games because he lost to South Korea, has been revealed.

On the 7th, the Tcast E Channel entertainment program 'One Point Difference: Psychomentary' unveiled the life-risking defection story of North Korean judo hero Lee Chang-su, which is also the real-life version of the drama 'Crash Landing on You.' Lee, who defected in 1991, was a 'Meritorious Athlete' of North Korea at the time, having received four medals from the country. In a defection press conference, he stated, "Through a relationship with a Taiwanese woman lasting over four years, I developed deep affection and became more determined to defect to South Korea."

North Korean judo athlete Lee Chang-su, who was dragged to the coal mine despite winning a silver medal [Image source=Capture from Tcast E Channel 'Han Kkeut Chai: Psychomentary']

His partner was Jin Young-jin, a Taiwanese female national judo representative. The two first met at the 1989 World Judo Championships and fell in love. Although their meeting lasted only about ten days during the short competition period, their feelings were sincere. Meanwhile, Lee lost to South Korean athlete Jung Hoon in the judo final of the 1990 Beijing Asian Games and won the silver medal, but he had to endure hardship by being sent to a coal mine because of this.

Lee Chang-su recalled, "I truly lived hard for my country, but because I came in second, they sent me to the coal mine and wouldn't even let me quit sports," adding, "I had no confidence to raise my child on that land." While shoveling coal in the mine, he felt shame and thought, 'What is this?' which led him to decide to defect.

The appearance of player Lee Chang-su, who won the silver medal at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games [Image source=Capture from T-cast E Channel 'A Fine Line: Psychomentary']

Lee Chang-su was able to escape from the coal mine with the help of Jang Song-thaek, Kim Il-sung’s son-in-law and Kim Jong-un’s uncle, who was a powerful figure in North Korea at the time. Jang Song-thaek was known to care for athletes in the sports association. Later, at the 1991 World Championships, Lee confided his defection plan to Jin Young-jin, who was competing alongside him. He sent her a letter saying, "You are definitely my love. Please wait until then," promising to find her again after going to South Korea. However, since Lee was always monitored by a coach, it was not easy to carry out the plan. Eventually, Lee got the coach drunk and, while the coach was asleep, jumped off a moving train to defect.

Afterwards, Jin Young-jin, having seen Lee’s defection news article, defied her family and friends’ opposition and headed to South Korea, saying, "He came trusting only me. I must go and find him." The two reunited in South Korea and got married three months later in 1992. Lee Chang-su said, "When I was struggling, she helped me a lot, so I thought I should live with her. We are the real 'Crash Landing on You.'" Both Lee Chang-su and Jin Young-jin agreed, saying, "We would make the same choice even if we were born again."

Meanwhile, Lee Chang-su made various efforts to bring his biological mother and family from North Korea to South Korea but failed every time, and it was also revealed that he was scammed out of about 700 million won by a broker. Jang Song-thaek, who saved him from the coal mine, was executed on December 12, 2013, for the crime of plotting to overthrow the state.