Professor Oh Jaegun of Korea National Sport University: "If You Want to Achieve Results, Do It Like This..."

Former Oriental Medicine Doctor as National Team Doctor
Interest in Sports Medicine Sparked by Treating Former Coach Choi Jin-han
Medical Care for Volleyball, Taekwondo, Fencing, and Cycling Athletes
Recently Published Book on Gout, Serving as a 'Health Evangelist'

"Exercise is more important immediately after a competition."

Professor Oh Jae-geun of Korea National Sport University is building muscle strength through weight training before going to work.

When asked about the "secret for national athletes to achieve good results," Professor Oh Jae-geun of the Department of Exercise and Health Management at Korea National Sport University answered this way. In an interview with Asia Economy on the 13th, Professor Oh said, "Athletes come to me for treatment, rehabilitation, and exercise before major competitions. They work really hard until the competition," adding, "While exercise to prepare for the competition is important, managing the body right after the competition is even more necessary. This is the secret to achieving good results and longevity as an athlete."

Professor Oh has served as a team doctor for national teams in Taekwondo, fencing, cycling, and keirin. He said, "I believe that building the body is a form of treatment. Before competitions, it is necessary to consume a lot of carbohydrates to store in the muscles. You need to build the muscles required for your specific sport." He continued, "If you think of it like studying, if math is weak, you need to reinforce it, and for subjects like Korean and English that you are usually strong in, you need to maintain your performance. You must identify your weaknesses and undergo treatment and supplementary training. Conditioning with the help of a professional trainer is essential to achieve good results."

Professor Oh Jae-geun of Korea National Sport University is a former Korean medicine doctor and is active as a medical officer for the national team.

Professor Oh graduated from Kyung Hee University College of Korean Medicine and majored in sports medicine and exercise physiology at Korea University. He managed athletes' conditions at international competitions such as the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In 1997, he became affiliated with the Korea Volleyball Association, serving as a medical committee member and assisting athletes like Lee Kyung-soo and Park Cheol-woo with rehabilitation and treatment. He has served as a medical committee member of the Korean Sports Council and as president of the Korean Society of Sports Korean Medicine. Currently, he holds positions as a medical committee member of the Korea Volleyball Association and the Asian Volleyball Confederation.

Professor Oh has a deep connection with sports. He played soccer in Jinju Middle School. At his parents' urging, he quit sports and focused on studying, entering Kyung Hee University with a six-year scholarship. Former Gyeongnam FC coach Choi Jin-han was a friend from Jinju Middle School. They were close enough to see each other even during university. He recalled, "While treating (Choi) Jin-han, I became interested in sports medicine. I saw a recruitment notice for a sports medicine professor at Korea National Sport University, applied, and was accepted." He smiled, saying, "Exercise is fun, teaching is fun, and treatment is fun. I thought I would stay for only three years and then return to Gangdong Kyung Hee University Hospital, but I have already been at Korea National Sport University for nearly 30 years."

Professor Oh Jae-geun from Korea National Sport University is doing squats during a break.

He was a "popular figure" among national athletes. When they suffered minor muscle injuries, they came to Professor Oh. He achieved maximum treatment effects without incisions or injections. Professor Oh boasted, "Korean medicine is a natural therapy. It has fewer side effects and is economical. Above all, it shows immediate effects." He explained the advantages of Korean medicine, saying, "Foreign swimmers like Michael Phelps (USA) also use cupping therapy. There are many treatment methods preferred by athletes, such as moxibustion, pharmacopuncture, and Chuna manual therapy."

Professor Oh is a health evangelist. He frequently appears on TV to share his health management know-how. There was a turning point that sparked his interest in health. He first showed symptoms of gout in 2005, and when he went to Oregon State University in the United States as a research professor in 2017, the gout fully manifested. He recalled, "Gout first occurred 19 years ago in the U.S. It was dormant but relapsed in 2017." He overcame it through exercise and diet management that reduced abdominal obesity and improved insulin resistance. A book related to gout will be published soon, titled "Treating Gout with Exercise."

Professor Oh Jae-geun from Korea National Sport University is appearing on a TV program explaining exercise methods.

"I am grateful for gout. Because of gout, I exercise every morning from 6:00 to 7:30 before going to work. I have maintained this routine for seven years. Now, if I don't exercise, my body feels stiff. To treat gout, routine and diet are important. You should eat less protein and make sure to have eggs, bananas, and yogurt. Drinking coffee is also good for gout. Nuts, seasonal fruits, peaches, and grapes are beneficial. If there are no fruits, sweet potatoes are also acceptable."