People's Athlete

People's Athlete (Korean: 인민체육인) is a North Korean honorary title awarded to sportspeople.[1][2] It was created in 1966. It is usually reserved to those who have won in the Olympic Games or have won a world championship, as it is the most prestigious award for North Korean sportspeople.[3]

People's Athlete
Date8 October 1966 (1966-10-08)
CountryNorth Korea
Currently held byc. 200 sportspeople
People's Athlete
Chosŏn'gŭl
Hancha
Revised RomanizationInmin cheyugin
McCune–ReischauerInmin ch'eyugin

The title is closely connected with the North Korea national football team. The title was instituted after their achievements in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Victories in the FIFA World Cups are rewarded with the title, as well as the right to live in the capital Pyongyang, including to one's family members.[3][4] Because of this and since the women's football team has done better recently, the more experienced coaches prefer to work with them rather than with the men's football team.[4]

Another similar award is the Merited Athlete.[1]

History
People's Athlete, marathoner Jong Song-ok

The title was instituted on 8 October 1966[5] by the Supreme People's Assembly.[2] Its establishment was prompted by the North Korea national football team's success in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, where it had reached the quarter-final stage in July. The first people to receive the title were members of the team Pak Doo-ik and Shin Yung-kyoo, as well as Sin Kim-dan, a runner.[5][6]

It was rumored in 2010 that football coach Kim Jong-hun's award was rescinded for losing a game against Portugal in the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.[7]

Cho Dae-won became the first baduk (Go) player to receive the award in October 2013.[8]

As of 1984, a People's Athlete is paid a 200-won monthly wage. The sum is far greater than that of an ordinary office worker who was typically paid around 70 won.[9] As of December 2011, around 200 people have received the title during the 45 years that had passed since its establishment.[6] Whenever the title is conferred, the recipient also receives the Order of the National Flag, first class.[10] Overseas Koreans have received the award, too. For instance Hong Chang-su, Jong Tae-se and An Yong-hak are North Koreans living in Japan who have been named People's Athletes.[6]

List of People's Athletes
This sports-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
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See also

References
  1. "NK Awards Football Team for Reaching World Cup". The Korea Times. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  2. Yonhap News Agency, Seoul (27 December 2002). North Korea Handbook. M.E. Sharpe. p. 135. ISBN 978-0-7656-3523-5.
  3. T. K. (13 July 2010). "Ask a Korean! News: North Korean Soccer (Part I)". Ask a Korean!. Blogspot. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  4. T. K. (4 August 2010). "Ask a Korean! News: North Korean Soccer (Part III)". Ask a Korean!. Blogspot. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  5. Weiser, Martin (8 January 2016). "Chests Full of Brass: A DPRK Political History in Orders, Medals, Prizes, and Titles". Sino-NK. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  6. "Sportspersons Honored with Title of People's Athlete". KCNA. 8 December 2011. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  7. Choi Yong Sang (2 August 2010). "Pyongyang Sources Doubt Kim Jong Hun Rumors". DailyNK. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  8. Lee Young-jong (10 September 2014). "North embraces baduk even in kindergartens". Korea JoongAng Daily. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  9. "ROK Outshines N.K. in 8 Sports". Korea Newsreview. Seoul: Korea Herald. 13 (1–26): 217. 1984. OCLC 473441715.
  10. North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 132.
  11. North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 492.
  12. North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 781.
  13. "HONG Un Jong". database.fig-gymnastics.com. 15 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  14. North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 381.
  15. North Korea Handbook 2002, p. 496.
  16. "North Korea Newsletter No. 375 (Aug. 13, 2015)". Yonhap News Agency. 13 August 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  17. Choe Kwang-ho (May 2015). "Renowned Football Coach". Democratic People's Republic of Korea. No. 713. pp. 32–33. ISSN 1727-9208.
  18. An, ed. (30 July 2008). "Kye Sun Hui pinned high hope to win gold at Olympics for DPRK". Xinhua. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  19. Mun Ung-jun (28 February 2016). "Thought About Fist and Soul". Naenara. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  20. "Weightlifting Enthusiasm Runs High in DPRK". KCNA. 4 August 2012. Archived from the original on 12 October 2014. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  21. "DPRK top leader congratulates top woman soccer player's wedding". People's Daily Online. 15 April 2009. Retrieved 18 April 2016.

Works cited
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