Ahn Gwang-yeol, the Father of Korean Wrestling, Passes Away at 94 Years Old

In the LA Olympic Final, Yuin Tak Says "You Can Do It... Thanks Again"

An Gwang-yeol, a patriarch of Korean wrestling and a prominent elder in Jeonbuk sports, passed away at the age of 94.

The late An Gwang-yeol dedicated his life to the promotion and service of wrestling and was the founder who established the roots of wrestling in Jeonbuk. In 1958, he was the pioneer who introduced wrestling to Jeonbuk, which was then almost a barren land for the sport.

Ahn Gwang-yeol in his later years. [Photo provided by Jeonbuk Provincial Sports Council]

During the 1960s to 1990s, when An was actively working as a coach, many national champions and representatives emerged. Among his disciples were key figures in Korean wrestling such as Yoo In-tak, the former head of the Jincheon National Training Center and gold medalist at the 1984 LA Olympics, as well as Kim Ik-jong, Kim Young-jun, An Cheon-young, Baek Seung-yeon, and Bae Gi-yeol.

The late An also actively engaged in sports exchanges with Japan, the wrestling powerhouse of the 1960s, aiming to lead Korean wrestling to world dominance.

He served as the first executive director and vice president of the Jeonbuk Wrestling Association, and held positions such as coach at the World Wrestling Championships, international referee at the Tokyo Olympics, head of delegation at the World Wrestling Championships, coach of the Korea Housing Corporation wrestling team, and head of delegation at the World Wrestling Championships, elevating the status of Korean wrestling.

Former training center head Yoo In-tak recalled, "At the finals of the LA Olympics, I still vividly remember him shouting, 'Intak, you can do it. Stay strong!' at the venue. When I won the gold medal, he held my hand and said, 'Thank you, thank you again.'"

He added, "A great star in the sports world beyond wrestling has set. I sincerely pray for the repose of his soul."

The late An Gwang-yeol’s funeral is being held at the Dongjeonju Funeral Culture Center, Jeonju, Jeonbuk, VIP Room 2, with the funeral service scheduled for 7:30 AM on the 29th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.