"An Idol-Level Goddess Has Arrived": Hong Kong Media Stunned by the Beauty of a South Korean Office Worker-Turned National Archer [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] Her life is more cinematic than a movie. After putting down her bow without looking back in elementary school and working as an ordinary office employee in the fashion industry in her 20s, she picked it up again as a hobby at 25 and ultimately set a world record on the Asian Games stage. The unbelievable life turnaround of Park Jeong-yun of Changwon City Hall, a South Korean compound archery national team member whom even Hong Kong media have hailed as an "idol-level goddess archer," is causing a stir across Asia.
Park Jeong-yun's archery career once took a long pause. She began archery as a child but left the shooting line after much deliberation. As an adult, she devoted herself to a demanding office job in the fashion industry and seemed destined to move permanently away from archery. Yet her longing for the bow never disappeared, eventually drawing her back to the shooting line. At the relatively late age of 25, Park began shooting again as an amateur rather than a professional athlete and unleashed her potential at a remarkable pace. The hobby soon led to a professional career, and after surviving fiercely competitive selection trials, she finally earned the South Korean national team badge she had dreamed of wearing this year.


At her first Asian Games, the late-blooming national team's bow showed no hesitation. Park scored 702 points in the ranking round to finish third overall, signaling that something special was coming.
The highlight came in the mixed team round-of-16 match against Japan, where she teamed up with Choi Yong-hee of Hyundai Steel. Park and Choi placed all 16 arrows in the 10-point ring, displaying extraordinary concentration to post a perfect 160 points and completely defeat Japan. Eleven of the 16 arrows landed in the X-ring at the exact center of the 10-point target, allowing them to set new world and Asian records simultaneously. Park carried that momentum to silver in the mixed team event and bronze in the women's team event, completing a successful debut as a late-blooming national team athlete.


Her comic-book-like story and dazzling performance have even captured the attention of overseas media. Hong Kong outlet Kinliu lavished praise on Park, calling her an "idol-level goddess archer," and focused on her extraordinary journey from a 25-year-old office worker to a world-record holder.
After successfully completing the competition, Park said, "I am truly grateful simply to have had the experience of competing on such a big stage." She added, "As I competed in one match after another, I could feel myself becoming a little calmer. I also gained confidence that I could do better if I get the chance to compete on a stage like this again."
From office worker to amateur, and then to Asian Games medalist and world-record holder. Park's thrilling second act has only just begun. She set her sights on a higher target, saying, "I want to prepare well for next year's selection trials and compete at the World Championships."
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter