Commemorative projects of Seo Yoon-bok (1923-2017) - Special pictorials
Oct 13, 2024
To re-examine the life of "1947 sports hero" prior to the unveiling of the plaque on October 12 "Seoyunbok-gil" (the 1.2km section between Ewha University Station and Daeheung Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul), we will look at the previous projects that commemorated him through pictorials. Photo shoot provided by Seo Yoon-bok Commemoration Project Promotion Committee - Editor's note
In 1947, Seo Yoon-bok won the Boston Marathon and shouted "Korea" in a faraway foreign land!"The cheers of " reverberated to every corner of the Korean Peninsula, and excited the whole nation with joy after overcoming the sorrow of Japanese colonial era.
It was the desire of the time to dream of a united future of the Korean Peninsula beyond ideology and inter-Korean conflict, and it was also the spirit of the times that shifted from the field of sports to the field of history.
It can be said that the experience of "1947 Korea" was reproduced half a century later as the experience of "2002 Korea", and today, more than 20 years later, the modern history of the Korean Peninsula is still demanding the succession of "the spirit of the times" amid an unresolved conflict.
"I want to use the will of Seo Yoon-bok's victory to open a future where young people living today can fulfill their dreams and love in a conflict-free world." (Oh Cheon-jin, Chairman of the Seo Yoon-bok Commemoration Project)
1. Medal to commemorate victory (1947) - Designation of cultural properties (2021)
Seo Yoon-bok wore a laurel crown for winning the Boston Marathon, received a winning medal, key and insignia, and the winning medal (second from the right of the picture) was designated as a cultural asset in 2021. In addition, he received the Helms Award (bottom left of the picture) for the best player in the world's six continents the same year.
2. Welcome to the Improvement Paintings and Songs, Chukshi (1947) - celebrated cultural artists
After winning the championship, Seo Yoon-bok took a tour of the welcoming party across the United States and improved to Incheon-Seoul in 67 days, and was praised by cultural artists who were called the internal route of the time.
3. Movies (1947) and <1947 Boston> (2023)
In 1947, a feature-length record film "The Lost Capital" (filmed by Yu Jang-san, Free Film Company), featuring Seo Yoon-bok's bleeding practice process and the live performance of the Boston Marathon, was released, making it the first sports film in Korea. Since then, 76 years later, "1947 Boston" (directed by Cho Young-kyu, Lotte Entertainment), which deals with Seo Yoon-bok, Son Ki-jung, and Nam Seung-ryong's away game in Boston, was released in 2023, and actor Lim Si-wan played Seo Yoon-bok. Unfortunately, the "Loser's Capital" cannot be found at this time.
4. Construction of the Jokpacheonha Memorial Tower (1955)
Kim Gu congratulated Seo Yoon-bok on his victory and wrote the title '足覇 to defeat the world with his feet' In 1955, the Jokpaecheonha Memorial Tower was built on the campus of his alma mater, Sungmun High School, and is open to the public.
5. Boston Marathon Centennial Monument (1996) and Korean Athlete Victory Monument (2004)
In 1996, a monument to the 100th anniversary of the Boston Marathon (Copley Square in downtown Boston, left of the picture) was built, and the name of the winner was engraved, and Seo Yoon-bok's name was also raised. In 2004, a monument to the victory of Korean athletes at the Boston Marathon (Hop Kinton, the starting point of the marathon, right of the picture) was erected as a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the immigration of Koreans to the Americas, and the names of Seo Yoon-bok, Ham Ki-yong, and Lee Bong-ju were engraved side by side.
6. Compilation of Seo Yun-bok's biography (2013)
Published 'Marathoner Seo Yoon-bok' at Sungmun Middle and High School Association, Seo Yoon-bok's alma mater. This book is a collection of chronological materials that refine visual materials from the time of each rainy season. It carried articles and photos that were not well known at the time, including 'Free Newspaper (Korea)' and 'The Boston Sunday Globe (USA)'. It is also a valuable historical source that can trace the history of modern and contemporary Korea throughout his life.
7. 1947 Sports Hero Selection - Korean Sports Council (2013)
Korea's sports hero was selected as the first Asian to win the competition. The Korean Sports Association said that the reason for the award was that "he won the worldwide marathon competition when the government of the Republic of Korea was established, promoting the existence of the Republic of Korea to the world, and giving hope to the people, and later as a track and field leader, he contributed greatly to the development of sports in Korea."
8. 88 artifacts confirmed for exhibition in 2026 opening of sports museum (2023)
Korea Sports Promotion Agency - To mark the 100th anniversary of Seo Yoon-bok's birth, it announced that it plans to display 88 artifacts, including a winning medal, a photo album containing his journey to the competition, a handwritten manuscript, newspaper scrap and travel certificate, at the National Sports Museum, which is scheduled to open in 2026.
9. The 1st Seo Yoon-bok Commemorative Marathon is held (2024)
Hosted by the Sungmun General Association, the "1st Seo Yoon-bok Memorial Marathon" will be held at Nanjicheon Lawn Plaza in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Meanwhile, Sungmun High School held the 「Turtle Marathon」 in 2006, which attracted more than 5,000 students, faculty, alumni, and residents to mark the 100th anniversary of its opening in 2006, recreating the Boston Marathon, which Seo Yoon-bok won.
10. Seo Yoon Bok-gil Honorary Road Notice and Nameplate Unveiling Ceremony (2024)
This is Seoyunbok-gil - The 1.2km section between Ewha Station and Daeheung Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, was announced as an honorary road for Seoyunbok-gil in September and held a plaque unveiling ceremony in October. In the future, through the promotion of the parkization plan, a mural street on the red clay road will be created, reborn as a graffiti park - photo zone street, and will become a landmark of Mapo. Mapo-gu also renamed the nearby Ewha Womans University Green Area Shelter as Seo Yoon-bok Green Area Shelter to commemorate Seo Yoon-bok.
○Song by Seo Yoon-bok / Yoon Seok-joong / Free newspaper 1947 4. 27
1
2 hours, 25 minutes and 39 seconds
a new world record for the Boston Marathon
Let's fly the national flag. The flag of victory
World Leader Seo Yoon-bok
2
with a firm spirit and perseverance
the glory of fighting to the end
Let's fly the national flag. The flag of victory
Player Seo Yoon-bok, the apostle of holy power
3
For the freedom of my country, for peace
I will run on the path of justice
Let's fly the national flag. The flag of victory
Seo Yoon-bok, the young son of Joseon
○ Marathon champion / Lunar New Year's ceremony / Dong-A Ilbo June 21, 1947
1
The strength and spirit of the son of this country
The Korean national flag that shakes the world
Ring the drum, a brilliant victory
a high marathon nation
2
Our torch burned in five colors
All the nuri will shine bright again
Ring the drum, a brilliant victory
a high marathon nation
3
an outstanding peak in a line of blood
A flower of the moon in eternal life
Ring the drum, a brilliant victory
a high marathon nation
○A Marathon Welcome / Lee Byung-ki / The Dong-A Ilbo June 21, 1947
1
Since ancient times, our world has come down
It's always a competition
The Brilliant Historical Korean Braces
Who's going to be beaten if we go ahead with the fight
Run, run, run, my warrior
It's all about victory. It's all about victory
2
Even on that dark day, our warrior
It shone like a big comet
It's sunny in the far east and the road is bright
Look at me. I'm walking ahead. Stop
Run, run, run, my warrior
It's all about victory. It's all about victory
3
The Son of Joseon, the Blood of Youth Boiling
Joseon's Onu Loving Fatherland
A day to brag and make improvements worthwhile
I'm not glad to see you
Run, run, run, my warrior
It's all about victory. It's all about victory
○ Flower bouquet / Open-air people / 1947
Hosanna, Hosanna
Crowds
Let's shout hurrah
Set up a gate
wearing a laurel crown
The marathon king, Seo Yoon-bok, is coming back
The son of Joseon who ate porridge
The world stadium shines in the shape of a diamond
Don't you think I'm going to cry
To my country-- to my nation-- to honor it
Shining in the world of young people in Joseon
Our players are coming back there
Mother and father, have a toast
Red rose. White rose
with Hamba flowers
Women of this land
Throw a bouquet of flowers
Now, someone is in despair
Are you going to sigh
Joseon shines
in the near future
It's a bright new day
Let's do it again
Let's just sing a song for improvement
○ Day of Emotion / Seo Yoon-bok / 1947
with one's body on an iron horse
As I'm leaving Hanyang
There's cheers everywhere
Every house has a Korean flag
I'm so sure you're going to see this scene
a boori without tears
In 1947, Seo Yoon-bok won the Boston Marathon and shouted "Korea" in a faraway foreign land!"The cheers of " reverberated to every corner of the Korean Peninsula, and excited the whole nation with joy after overcoming the sorrow of Japanese colonial era.
It was the desire of the time to dream of a united future of the Korean Peninsula beyond ideology and inter-Korean conflict, and it was also the spirit of the times that shifted from the field of sports to the field of history.
It can be said that the experience of "1947 Korea" was reproduced half a century later as the experience of "2002 Korea", and today, more than 20 years later, the modern history of the Korean Peninsula is still demanding the succession of "the spirit of the times" amid an unresolved conflict.
"I want to use the will of Seo Yoon-bok's victory to open a future where young people living today can fulfill their dreams and love in a conflict-free world." (Oh Cheon-jin, Chairman of the Seo Yoon-bok Commemoration Project)
1. Medal to commemorate victory (1947) - Designation of cultural properties (2021)
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2. Welcome to the Improvement Paintings and Songs, Chukshi (1947) - celebrated cultural artists
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3. Movies
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4. Construction of the Jokpacheonha Memorial Tower (1955)
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5. Boston Marathon Centennial Monument (1996) and Korean Athlete Victory Monument (2004)
|
6. Compilation of Seo Yun-bok's biography (2013)
|
7. 1947 Sports Hero Selection - Korean Sports Council (2013)
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8. 88 artifacts confirmed for exhibition in 2026 opening of sports museum (2023)
|
9. The 1st Seo Yoon-bok Commemorative Marathon is held (2024)
|
10. Seo Yoon Bok-gil Honorary Road Notice and Nameplate Unveiling Ceremony (2024)
|
○Song by Seo Yoon-bok / Yoon Seok-joong / Free newspaper 1947 4. 27
1
2 hours, 25 minutes and 39 seconds
a new world record for the Boston Marathon
Let's fly the national flag. The flag of victory
World Leader Seo Yoon-bok
2
with a firm spirit and perseverance
the glory of fighting to the end
Let's fly the national flag. The flag of victory
Player Seo Yoon-bok, the apostle of holy power
3
For the freedom of my country, for peace
I will run on the path of justice
Let's fly the national flag. The flag of victory
Seo Yoon-bok, the young son of Joseon
○ Marathon champion / Lunar New Year's ceremony / Dong-A Ilbo June 21, 1947
1
The strength and spirit of the son of this country
The Korean national flag that shakes the world
Ring the drum, a brilliant victory
a high marathon nation
2
Our torch burned in five colors
All the nuri will shine bright again
Ring the drum, a brilliant victory
a high marathon nation
3
an outstanding peak in a line of blood
A flower of the moon in eternal life
Ring the drum, a brilliant victory
a high marathon nation
○A Marathon Welcome / Lee Byung-ki / The Dong-A Ilbo June 21, 1947
1
Since ancient times, our world has come down
It's always a competition
The Brilliant Historical Korean Braces
Who's going to be beaten if we go ahead with the fight
Run, run, run, my warrior
It's all about victory. It's all about victory
2
Even on that dark day, our warrior
It shone like a big comet
It's sunny in the far east and the road is bright
Look at me. I'm walking ahead. Stop
Run, run, run, my warrior
It's all about victory. It's all about victory
3
The Son of Joseon, the Blood of Youth Boiling
Joseon's Onu Loving Fatherland
A day to brag and make improvements worthwhile
I'm not glad to see you
Run, run, run, my warrior
It's all about victory. It's all about victory
○ Flower bouquet / Open-air people / 1947
Hosanna, Hosanna
Crowds
Let's shout hurrah
Set up a gate
wearing a laurel crown
The marathon king, Seo Yoon-bok, is coming back
The son of Joseon who ate porridge
The world stadium shines in the shape of a diamond
Don't you think I'm going to cry
To my country-- to my nation-- to honor it
Shining in the world of young people in Joseon
Our players are coming back there
Mother and father, have a toast
Red rose. White rose
with Hamba flowers
Women of this land
Throw a bouquet of flowers
Now, someone is in despair
Are you going to sigh
Joseon shines
in the near future
It's a bright new day
Let's do it again
Let's just sing a song for improvement
○ Day of Emotion / Seo Yoon-bok / 1947
with one's body on an iron horse
As I'm leaving Hanyang
There's cheers everywhere
Every house has a Korean flag
I'm so sure you're going to see this scene
a boori without tears
tokkig@sportschosun.com
