Heo Youngho, First to Climb Seven Summits and Reach Three Poles, Passes Away at 71

Captain Hyungho Hur. Asia Economy DB

Mountaineer Heo Youngho, who was the first in the world to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents and reach the three poles (the North Pole, South Pole, and Everest), has passed away. He was 71 years old.

The bereaved family of the late Heo Youngho told Yonhap News on the 30th, "He was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in December last year and fought the illness for about eight months before passing away at 8:09 p.m. on the 29th."

Born in 1954 in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province, and a graduate of Jecheon High School and Cheongju University, Heo was the first Korean to summit Everest (8,848m) in winter in 1987. In May 2017, he set the record as the oldest Korean to climb Everest (at age 63) and for the most Everest ascents by a Korean (six times). He was also known for being the first in the world to reach the three poles (Everest in 1987, the South Pole in 1994, and the North Pole in 1995) and to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents. In recognition of these achievements, the government awarded him the Order of Sports Merit Girin Medal (1982), Geosang Medal (1988), Maengho Medal (1991), and Cheongryong Medal (1996).

To fulfill his childhood dream of becoming a pilot, Heo obtained an ultralight aircraft pilot license in 1998 and transformed himself into an aviation adventurer with the goal of flying around the world. In April 2008, he succeeded in a solo 1,000km flight from Yeoju to Jeju. In 2011, he completed a solo 1,800km flight in an ultralight aircraft, traveling from Dokdo, Marado, and Gageodo?the easternmost, southernmost, and westernmost points of Korea?back to Jecheon Airfield in North Chungcheong Province. He continued to nurture his dream of circumnavigating the globe in an ultralight aircraft and, as a lecturer, emphasized the importance of challenge to young people.

The late Heo is survived by one son and one daughter (Heo Jaeseok and Heo Jeongyun). The funeral hall is Room 7 at Hanyang University Hospital in Seoul (visitation from 2 p.m.), and the funeral will be held at 10:40 a.m. on August 1. The burial site is the family grave in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province.