Elderly Riders Shine at the 3rd Yangsan Samjangsu Equestrian Competition
Professor Yoon Jung Takes 2nd Place in 30-Class Obstacle General Division
A current university president created a stir by participating as the oldest competitor in an equestrian competition and even winning an award.
The protagonist of this display of 'noble spirit' is Jeon Ho-hwan, President of Tongmyong University. President Jeon competed in the 30-class obstacle event at the 3rd Yangsan Samjangsu Equestrian Competition, hosted and organized by Yangsan City and the Yangsan Equestrian Association, held at Hwangsan Park Special Arena in Yangsan from May 27 to 29. He finished in third place. Professor Yoon Jeong of Tongmyong University, who also participated, took second place.
Show jumping is a competition where participants must clear 10 to 15 obstacles set up in the arena, in order, within a designated time. Rankings are determined based on completion time and penalty points for mistakes.
Dong Myung University President Ho Hwan Jeon (far right) is standing on the award stage after winning 3rd place in the Obstacle 30 Class at the 3rd Yangsan City Samjangsu Equestrian Competition. 2nd place went to Dong Myung University Professor Jung Yoon (far left).
Tongmyong University will establish a Department of Leisure and Equestrian Studies and begin accepting freshmen from the 2025 academic year. The university has launched an equestrian club with 15 active members, and in this competition, four athletes participated and three won awards. Lim Taeyoung, a third-year student at Korea Racing Livestock High School, who won first place in the High School 80-class event, has applied for early admission to Tongmyong University for the 2025 academic year.
President Jeon's participation in the equestrian competition was to promote the necessity of Tongmyong University's strongly pursued "Chedeokji" (Physical, Moral, and Intellectual Education) and the Do-ing education philosophy, which emphasizes challenge, practice, and experience as core values.
President Jeon has emphasized, "To develop the strength to survive in any world, the value of Do-ing education, which is based on robust physical fitness and encourages challenge and practice, must be spread."
Tongmyong University previously established the Department of Football and the K-Sports Taekwondo Department to promote the spread of Chedeokji and Do-ing education. The university's football team made history in Korean university football by winning the 60th Spring University Football Federation Hansan Daecheopgi just 69 days after its founding in February this year, finishing as runner-up at the 19th University Football Federation Taebaeksan Cup in July, and winning the 2024 U-League 2, Zone 10 title.
President Jeon, who has been challenging himself in equestrian sports for the past four years, commented, "As the oldest participant among over 120 competitors, I found meaning in simply taking part. I have always wanted to challenge myself in equestrian competitions and will continue to participate. Equestrianism is a sport that involves communicating with horses, and it is excellent for developing communication, empathy, confidence, leadership, and physical fitness."
He especially recommends equestrian sports to young elementary students, stating, "Tongmyong University will do its utmost to foster elite equestrians, promote the equestrian industry, and expand the community of enthusiasts."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
