Miracles Made by 12 Years of Challenge...Gumi City to Tower at the Top…

사회부 0 276 2025.03.17 07:15

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Gumi City, "If you don't give up, there's nothing impossible."

The challenges launched during Mayor Nam Yoo-jin's time, the first successful case of local governments-led completion of the seven continents, and the indomitable spirit of challenge and the impression of Gumi citizens

Continuing New Challenges, including Successful Holding of Asian Athletics Championships

March 14 at 3 p.m., the world's highest mountain expedition on seven continents will be held

"Another dream became a reality"

[Korea Distribution Newspaper = Reporter Kim Do-hyung] Gumi City has finally completed a 12-year expedition to the world's highest peak on seven continents with the Taegeukgi flying from the summit of Vinson Mashif (4,892m) in Antarctica. This marks the first time in Korea that it is the highest peak on seven continents led by a local government.

2024 Antarctica Climbing Vinson Meshiff

2024 Antarctica Climbing Vinson Meshiff

More than 200 people, including Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho, National Assemblyman Koo Ja-geun, City Council President Park Kyo-sang, and the Gumi Mountain Music Federation, attended the ceremony on March 14 to celebrate the expedition's achievements and award appreciation plaques.

The beginning of the dream, at the beginning of the year 2008

Gumi City's challenge dates back to 2008. The "Yes Gumi Chouyu Expedition," which was formed by Gumi City (Mayor Nam Yoo-jin) and the Gumi Mountain Music Federation (Chairman Jang Sang-hwan) to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the city's promotion, was the beginning of the project. The expedition team took its first step on Oct. 2 of the same year by reclaiming the "Yes Gumi Sculpture Tower," which contains the wishes of citizens, at the summit of the Himalayan Chouyu Peak (8,201 meters).

Prelude to Challenge, Formation of the Seven Continents' Peak Expedition (June 2011)

In 2011, Gumi City established a plan to conquer the highest peaks of the world's seven continents from 2012 to 2018 to mark the 40th anniversary of its promotion to the city (2018). To this end, the "Yes Gumi World's Seven Continents' Peak Expedition" was formed, and it went up to the top one by one every year, starting with El Bruges in Europe in 2012.

a moment of crisis, an unending spirit of challenge

Not all journeys were smooth. During the expedition to Everest in April 2015, the 8.1-magnitude earthquake in Nepal caused the trip to be suspended.

However, they did not give up. They conquered Aconcagua (South America) and Carstensz (Oceania) one after another in 2016, and successfully tried again on Everest in 2017. The expedition to Antarctica was postponed due to various circumstances, but they did not stop.

Antarctic Expedition in 2024, Finale of 12-Year Challenge

In December 2024, the city of Gumi went on its last expedition. Leaving hoping for the success of the Gumi Asian Athletics Championships, the expedition reached the summit of Vinson Mashif at 6:08 a.m. on Dec. 24. They declared the completion of their 12-year long journey by flying the Korean national flag and the flag of Gumi from the summit.

Expedition's thoughts, "12 years of challenge, with eternal memory"

Jang Heon-moo (8th participation), the leader of the expedition, said, "The moment I experienced an earthquake in Everest, the memory of eating in the rain in the jungle of Carstens, and the heartbreak of having to watch the death of another team climber... Every moment is vivid."

Members of the expedition expressed their gratitude to Gumi City, its sponsors, the Gumi Mountain Federation and citizens for making this challenge possible. Kang Kyung-sook (the head of Gumi City's mountain rescue team, participated in the 5th session) expressed her gratitude, saying, "All the mountains were difficult, but it was possible because of my colleagues and sponsors who led me along the way."

Finally, Captain Jang predicted a new challenge, saying, "The last mission is to return the 8,201 wishes reclaimed in early 2008 at Oyubong to citizens in 2028, 20 years later."

Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, "This expedition is an example of the spirit and solidarity of Gumi, not just climbing," adding, "In the future, Gumi will continue to grow with citizens as a challenge that goes beyond its limits."