Despite winning a silver medal at the 1990 Beijing Asian Games in the judo final against South Korea, North Korean judo athlete Lee Chang-soo was subjected to the humiliation of being sent to work in a coal mine.
His harrowing experience eventually led him to make a daring escape from North Korea.
On August 7, E Channel in South Korea aired the story of Lee Chang-soo, whose life mirrors the plot of the drama “Crash Landing on You,” as he risked everything to defect from North Korea.
In 1991, Lee Chang-soo, a celebrated judo hero and “Merited Athlete” in North Korea, defected to South Korea. During a press conference after his defection, Lee revealed that his determination to escape was strengthened by his deep relationship with a Taiwanese woman he had been dating for over four years. This woman was none other than Chen Ying-chin, a member of the Taiwanese national judo team, whom Lee first met at the 1989 World Judo Championships.
Lee’s ordeal began after he lost the judo final at the 1990 Asian Games to a South Korean athlete, earning a silver medal. As punishment, he was sent to work in a coal mine, where he endured harsh conditions.
Recalling the situation, Lee said, “I lived my life with full dedication to my country. But after finishing second, they sent me to a coal mine and didn’t even allow me to stop training. I couldn’t imagine raising my children in that land.”
It is reported that with the help of Jang Song-thaek, who was the son-in-law of Kim Il-sung and a powerful figure in North Korea at the time, Lee managed to escape from the coal mine and began planning his defection.
In 1991, at another World Judo Championships, Lee confided in Chen about his plan to defect. He left her a letter saying, “You are my true love. Please wait for me,” and promised to find her again after reaching South Korea.
Taking advantage of a moment when his coach fell asleep, Lee made his escape by jumping off a moving train.
“Lee Chang-soo’s decision to defect was largely driven by his sense of betrayal by his country,” said Professor Park Ji-sun. “The warmth and support he received from Chen Ying-chin likely gave him the courage to follow through with his plan.”
After reading news of Lee’s defection, Chen defied the objections of her family and friends, saying, “He came to find me because he only trusted me. I have to go find him too,” and she traveled to South Korea.
The couple was reunited in South Korea and married just three months later. In an interview, Lee Chang-soo shared, “When I was struggling, she helped me a lot, and I knew I wanted to spend my life with her. The real ‘Crash Landing on You’ is our story.”
BY JAESUNG BAE, YOUNGNAM KIM [hongdoya@joongang.co.kr]
