culture

People call Im Yong Su and Kim Chun Hui an “athlete couple” and “weightlifting coach couple” out of envy and respect.

They have left an indelible mark in developing the country’s weightlifting.

Kim Chun Hui, secretary general of the Weightlifting Association of the DPRK, is the winner of Kim Jong Il Prize and the titles of Labour Hero and People’s Athlete.

As a coach, she trained many world weightlifting aces like Rim Jong Sim and Rim Un Sim, who are sisters, and her trainees brought dozens of gold and many other medals from international games.

Im Yong Su, weightlifting coach of the Kigwancha Sports Club, was dubbed a “world weightlifting star” during his playing career by coming first in total standings at the World Weightlifting Championships in 2002 and became successful in other international games afterwards. In the course of that, he was awarded Kim Il Sung Youth Honour Prize and the title of People’s Athlete.

As they worked as coaches at the same club, they deepened their understanding of and trust in each other and tied the knot.

Although their love started from weightlifting and came into full bloom through the sport, training and matches were not everything to their life.

She had two children and came to have more family duties to perform.

When her some-month-old second son was carried to hospital due to a sudden illness, she rushed to the hospital late at night and felt a strong impulse to give up her career and be a good housewife.

At that time, her husband said that she would be unable to achieve her aim if she was enmeshed with a jumble of thoughts and that he would do his best to help her, encouraging her to advance forward as befitting a sportsperson without succumbing to difficulties.

Recollecting that time, Im Yong Su said smilingly: “I was a weightlifter when young and now I am a weightlifting coach. My job can be said to be a profession of lifting up heavy things. In a word, I like to challenge heavier things with greater courage in my work and life.” 

With such encouragement from her husband, Kim Chun Hui headed for the training ground again and brought about successes.

Referring to the couple, their neighbours and colleagues say, “The good husband is behind the successful wife.” 

“People say I’m the reliable supporter of my wife, but it’s not true. There were so many times when I failed to return home as a coach and it was beyond my power to deal with all sorts of household matters. Then, our neighbours and colleagues gave us sincere help. The real one behind my family’s success is just those obliging people and our society overflowing with love and affection,” Im said.

Though Kim Chun Hui is still busy as she is an official in charge of development of the country’s weightlifting techniques, she keeps making successes in her work, completely free from worries about her family.

Shortly ago, Korean weightlifters bagged 30 medals, including 18 golds, and set eight new world records and 10 new Asian records at the 2026 Asian Weightlifting Championships.