"What Is This Korean Athlete All About?" Interpreter Flustered by Choe Byeong-kwang's Astonishing Command of Three Languages [Nagoya AG]

[Financial News]   Choe Byeong-kwang (Samsung Electronics), a stalwart of South Korean race walking, won the first Asian Games medal of his career after 12 years of perseverance. Yet what drew the full spotlight of the local Japanese media was not only his valuable bronze medal on the track, but also his remarkable foreign-language skills.
On the 24th, Japanese sports outlet THE ANSWER reported prominently that Choe Byeong-kwang expressed his joy fluently in Japanese at the official medalists' press conference after the event, speaking directly without an interpreter.
Choe Byeong-kwang crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 28 minutes and 35 seconds to win bronze in the men's race walk final at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya on the 23rd. It was South Korea's first medal in the men's race walk at the Asian Games in eight years, since Ju Hyeon-myeong won bronze at Jakarta-Palembang 2018.
As soon as Choe Byeong-kwang entered the press conference room after the event, he answered questions from Japanese reporters directly in Japanese, astonishing those present. "To be honest, all the athletes competing today are renowned, world-class competitors whom everyone knows," he said modestly. "I was very fortunate to win a bronze medal after competing against athletes such as Toshikazu Yamanishi and the Chinese athletes."
When asked how he came to speak such flawless Japanese, Choe Byeong-kwang humbly replied, "My Japanese is still at a child's level." He then revealed, "I loved Japanese dramas, anime and television programs from the time I was in middle school, so I began studying on my own." His answer once again brought smiles to the reporters' faces.
Choe Byeong-kwang's language skills did not end there. In response to questions from foreign journalists, he continued the question-and-answer session smoothly in English, showcasing his outstanding ability to communicate globally. Moving freely between Korean, Japanese and English, he also offered a courteous tribute to the host nation: "I sincerely thank the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF), the reporters at the venue and everyone who supported me for all their efforts for today's race."
His race management shone just as brightly as his language skills. Choe Byeong-kwang was in fifth place at the 6-km mark with a time of 24 minutes and 43 seconds, but he raised the pace from the midpoint onward by drawing on his trademark endurance. At the 12-km mark, he moved into third place after edging out Japan's Kento Yoshikawa by one second. He held firmly to third place through the finish and completed the race steadily.
Choe Byeong-kwang has quietly taken part in the Asian Games since the Incheon 2014 Games, wearing South Korea's national colors. After a long 12-year wait, he finally claimed a precious medal. With his outstanding performance, fluent language skills and shining sportsmanship, he emerged as the star of Nagoya.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter