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Kang Ki-seok

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In this Korean name, the family name is Kang.
Kang Ki-seok
강기석
Born
September 10, 1978

Andong
DisappearedOctober 18, 2011 (age 33)
Annapurna
CitizenshipKorean
Alma materAndong National University
Occupation(s)Alpinist, Manager of a mountaineering gear distributor
Years active2003–2011
Known forMountaineering, climbing partner of Park Young-seok
Notable workFirst ascent, Korean Route on Mount Everest
Height170 cm (5 ft 7 in)
Awards'Alumni Who Made the Alma Mater Shine', Andong National University
HonoursOrder of Merit (3rd class)

Kang Ki-seok (Korean: 강기석; September 10, 1978 – October 18, 2011) was a South Korean mountaineer. Kang helped forge a new route on Mount Everest and was considered one of Korea's most promising mountaineers of his generation.

Biography

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Kang Ki-seok was the eldest of two sons and one daughter, born to a family from Andong, Korea.[1] In 1997, Kang Ki-seok entered Andong National University. There, he joined the university Mountaineering Club and began climbing in the Himalayas in 2003.[1] While training with the club, Kang would regularly make practice climbs on Bukhansan.[2] In 2004, he led a student expedition to climb Denali, and then went to explore the mountain regions of western China.[3]

In 2006, Kang Ki-seok graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering. That year, he made his first attempt on the south face of Lhotse, where he was hit by rockfall and injured. He climbed down to base camp, rested for two weeks and then tried another attempt at the summit. He had to descend after reaching the final camp before the summit.[3]

Kang was known for his love of the mountains and dedication to the people he would meet on his overseas climbing expeditions. After graduation, he joined the Goldwin Korea Alpine Challenge Team, devoting the next few years to climbing expeditions to Lhotse, Gasherbrum II and Denali with the team.[1]

Korean route on Everest

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In 2008, Kang made his first attempt on Mount Everest with new climbing partner Shin Dong-min.[3] After getting frostbite above Camp 4, Kang had to abandon his summit attempt. The next year, in May 2009, Shin Dong-min and Kang joined with Park Young-seok to make the first successful ascent of the "Korean Route" on the southwest face of Everest.[1] When asked by a reporter what book he brought on his climb, Kang replied, Walden by Henry David Thoreau.

First Annapurna attempt

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In 2010, Korean alpinist Park Young-seok organized an alpine-style attempt on an unclimbed line in Annapurna between two pillars established by previous British and Japanese expeditions. That year, Kang Ki-seok accompanied Park on an attempt at Annapurna.[4] It was unsuccessful, and the climbers vowed to return the next year. During the climb, Kang Ki-seok was hit by a human-sized boulder, injuring his knee. After resting at basecamp for a few days, he had to be airlifted to Kathmandu, and then flown to Korea for surgery for a torn tendon.[3] After recovery, he quickly returned to climbing.

The Annapurna massif, the destination of Kang's final climb

Final climb

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In 2011, Kang and expedition partners Park Young-seok and Shin Dong-min returned to Annapurna's south face in an attempt to pioneer the 'Korea New Route'. Kang travelled to Nepal without telling his parents about the expedition.[5] The team chose to climb in October, which is considered late in the season, in an attempt to avoid avalanches and rockfalls.[6] On October 18, the group lost contact and went missing on the mountain.[7][8]

The Korean Alpine Federation dispatched a rescue team of five Koreans and fourteen Sherpas in an expansive attempt to rescue them.[7] The rescue effort later had to be dissolved weeks later due to weather conditions on the mountain.[9][10] According to reports by local Sherpas, there was evidence of an avalanche and a cut rope, suggesting either a rockfall or avalanche had trapped the climbers.[6]

Aftermath

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A commemorative Mountaineer's joint funeral was held at Seoul National University Hospital's Funeral Hall[11] by the Korea Alpine Federation with all domestic mountaineering organizations participating and hundreds of mourners in attendance.[7][12] It was the first time the organization had organized such an event.[13][14] Kang was posthumously awarded the Order of Sports Merit, third class, Geojang Medal by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.[15][16]

At the time of Kang's death, he had plans to climb Makalu's west face (8,463m) and create a new route on the south face of Lhotse.[3]

In 2012, a new expedition organized by the Korean Alpine Federation returned to search for the missing climbers.[17] No trace of the missing climbers has been found.[18] A subsequent expedition in 2016 was again unsuccessful.[19]

In 2016, Kang Ki-seok was posthumously honored with the 'Alumni Who Made the Alma Mater Shine' award by the Andong National University Alumni Association.[20] That year, a documentary was released, covering a memorial climb to Annapurna by the family members of the missing climbers.[21]

Expeditions

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Order of Sports Merit Geosang (3rd Class) ribbon

Awards

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d 유길상 (2011-10-31). "故 강기석 대원, 그는 누구인가?". 경북in뉴스 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  2. ^ "[우리는 산친구] 히말라야 거벽을 향한 동행자 신동민·강기석씨". 월간산 (in Korean). 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  3. ^ a b c d e "[우리는 산친구] 히말라야 거벽을 향한 동행자 신동민·강기석씨". 월간산 (in Korean). 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  4. ^ "Famous Korean mountaineer disappears". services.thebmc.co.uk. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  5. ^ "故 박영석-신동민-강기석 합동 분향소, 마르지 않는 눈물". 동아일보 (in Korean). 2011-11-02. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  6. ^ a b maeil01@msnet.co.kr, 매일신문 공식트위터 @dgtwt / 온라인 기사 문의 (2011-10-22). "지역 젊은 산악인 2명도 박영석 대장과 함께 실종…신동민·강기석 대원". 매일신문 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-09-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c Coley, Mariah (2011-11-10). "Koreans Missing on Annapurna Presumed Dead". Alpinist. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  8. ^ "Renowned South Korean climber missing on Nepal trek". Arab News. 2011-10-20. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  9. ^ "Memorial for S. Korean climbers lost on Annapurna". Yahoo News. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  10. ^ Daily, The Chosun (2024-02-27). "Search for Lost Mountaineers Ends". The Chosun Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  11. ^ "Missing mountaineers sent off in solemn ceremony". The Korea Times. 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  12. ^ 부산연맹 (2011-11-04). "2011 안나푸르나 남벽원정대 故 박영석 ․ 故 신동민 ․ 故 강기석 합동영결식 안내 > 부산연맹 소식". 부산광역시산악연맹 (in Kanuri). Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  13. ^ "산의 영웅들 산에서 영원히 잠들다". 경북매일 (in Korean). 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  14. ^ "故 강기석 대원 '산악인장'". 안동인터넷뉴스 (in Korean). 2011-11-01. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  15. ^ 김순 (2011-11-03). "故 강기석·신동민 대원 훈장 추서". 경남연합일보 (in Korean). Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  16. ^ Mountaineers Shin Dong-min and Kang Ki-seok posthumously awarded the Sports Medalhttps://www.mcst.go.kr/kor/s_notice/news/newsView.jsp?pSeq=1727
  17. ^ "Search for lost climbers in Himalayas to resume". The Korea Times. 2012-08-07. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  18. ^ "Conditions slow search for lost mountaineers". The Korea Herald. 2012-08-23. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  19. ^ "Son to search for father's body on Annapurna". The Korea Times. 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  20. ^ "안동대 총동창회, 故강기석 동문에게'모교를 빛낸 동문상'수여". 안동뉴스 (in Korean). 2016-10-24. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  21. ^ "그대를 기억하며··· '아버지의 마지막 산'". 경상투데이 (in Korean). 2016-10-20. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  22. ^ "[우리는 산친구] 히말라야 거벽을 향한 동행자 신동민·강기석씨". 월간산 (in Korean). 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  23. ^ "[우리는 산친구] 히말라야 거벽을 향한 동행자 신동민·강기석씨". 월간산 (in Korean). 2010-08-19. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  24. ^ "AAC Publications - Asia, Nepal, Mahalangur Himal—Khumbu Section, Lhotse South Face, Winter Ascent". publications.americanalpineclub.org. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
  25. ^ "AAC Publications - Everest (8,850m), Southwest Face, Park's Korean Route". publications.americanalpineclub.org. Retrieved 2024-07-31.
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