Kwangheon Oh, head of the Boram Hallelujah Table Tennis Team under Boram Sangjo, will take the podium at his alma mater, Mokwon University. Oh led the women's national table tennis team at the '2024 Paris Olympics', achieving the feat of winning a team event medal for the first time in 16 years.
On May 7, Mokwon University announced that Oh has been appointed as a specially appointed professor in the Department of Sports Health Management at the College of Health and Safety.
Kwangheon Oh, Specially Appointed Professor, Department of Sports Health Management, Mokwon University. Provided by Mokwon University
Oh is an alumnus of Mokwon University (Department of Computer Engineering, Class of '89) and played as a member of the university's table tennis team during his studies. After beginning his coaching career in Japan, Oh led the Shukutoku University women's team to five consecutive All-Japan University Championship titles. He also served as a coach for the Japanese national team and as head coach of the junior team, becoming the first foreigner to receive the Japan Sports Association Mentor Award.
After his successful career in Japan, Oh returned to Korea in 2017 to become head coach of the Boram Hallelujah Table Tennis Team. Since 2022, he has served as head coach of the women's national team, leading them to a runner-up finish at the 2023 Durban World Table Tennis Championships (the first in 32 years) and a gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games (the first in 21 years).
In particular, at the '2024 Paris Olympics', Oh was recognized for his precise analysis and strategic planning, which contributed to the national team's bronze medal in the team event. For these achievements, he received the Paris Olympics Outstanding Coach Award from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. In October of last year, he was appointed head of the Boram Hallelujah Table Tennis Team and has since focused on nurturing players and strengthening the team's competitiveness.
The table tennis community recognizes Oh's series of accomplishments, evaluating him as a "coach who maximizes the potential of athletes."
Mokwon University expects that, as a specially appointed professor, Oh will contribute to nurturing future talent and providing practice-oriented education, drawing on the world-class coaching experience he has accumulated over the years.
Lee Heehak, president of Mokwon University, said, "It is meaningful that alumnus Kwangheon Oh will be joining his juniors at his alma mater," adding, "We are confident that Oh's dedication and passion will further enhance the educational competitiveness of the Department of Sports Health Management at Mokwon University."
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