"If there is no country, there is no me"
Asking to join the Naval Underwater Demolition Unit (UDU)
12-year-old girl becomes national number one in co-ed wrestling
Three consecutive national championships
Im Ha-kyung, a 12-year-old sixth grader at Yakdong Elementary School in Chilgok County, Gyeongbuk, who became the national champion in co-ed wrestling against boys, is drawing attention for sending a handwritten letter to the president asking, "Please allow girls to join the Naval Underwater Demolition Unit (UDU)."
Im Ha-kyung began wrestling in March last year and, in just one year, rose to become the number one ranked elementary school athlete in the combined boys and girls 60kg freestyle category.
With her mastery of the basic "tackle" move, she consecutively defeated male students and won three national tournaments in a row: the Jangheung National Competition, the KBS Cup, and the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism's Cup.
On December 13, Im Ha-kyung visited the planning office at Chilgok County Office holding the letter she had written herself to President Lee Jaemyung and asked the staff to "please make sure the president receives it."
The letter, written in neat handwriting, conveyed the child's sincerity.
"Mr. President, I am Im Ha-kyung, a girl who wrestles. Please let me join the UDU special forces, where my father served. I will work hard and win an Olympic gold medal. I look forward to your reply."
Im Ha-kyung, a sixth grader at Yakdong Elementary School in Chilgok County, Gyeongbuk, is holding a handwritten letter to the president and posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by Kim Ihwan
The UDU is known as an elite special forces unit that conducts high-level maritime and underwater infiltration operations.
Im Ha-kyung's dream of joining the UDU was greatly influenced by her father, Im Jonggu (50), who is a former member of the unit.
He often told his daughter, "If there is no country, there is no me," and "Keep going until you succeed." Im Ha-kyung naturally embraced these words and has nurtured her dream of becoming strong like her father and joining the UDU.
However, Im Ha-kyung recently learned that the UDU does not recruit female soldiers. In response, she said, "Then I'll ask the president myself," and actually wrote and delivered the letter to the county office.
In her early days of wrestling, Im Ha-kyung often cried and said she wanted to quit after repeatedly being thrown onto the mat by boys during training. However, by practicing the tackle move hundreds of times, she built up her fundamentals and ultimately achieved three consecutive national championships.
Even now, as the national number one, her dreams have not stopped.
Her ambitions continue to grow: winning an Olympic gold medal, joining the UDU, and becoming a celebrity to help those in need. The dreams of this 12-year-old girl keep expanding without pause.
Kim Jaeuk, the governor of Chilgok County, said, "Im Ha-kyung, who has shown strong will and achievement, is a source of pride for our region. We will continue to support her so she can pursue her dreams to the fullest."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
