Kim Kum-ok

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Kum-ok (Korean pronunciation: [kim.ɡɯ.mok̚] or [kim] [kɯ.mok̚]; born December 9, 1988) is a female long-distance runner and politician from North Korea, who specializes in the half marathon and marathon events. She represents the April 25 Sports Team.^[1]

Kim Kum-ok

Kim at the 2012 London Olympics
Personal information
Born	(1988-12-09) December 9, 1988 (age 35) Pyongyang, North Korea
Height	1.6 m (5 ft 3 in)
Weight	48 kg (106 lb)
Sport
Country	North Korea
Sport	Athletics
Event	Marathon
Team	April 25 Sports Team
Korean name
Chosŏn'gŭl	김금옥
Revised Romanization	Gim Geumok
McCune–Reischauer	Kim Kŭmok
Medal record Summer Universiade 2007 Bangkok Half marathon East Asian Games 2009 Hong Kong Half marathon Asian Games 2010 Guangzhou Half marathon

Kim ran in the Pyongyang Marathon in 2006 and took third with a time of 2:29:25.^[2] She improved for the 2007 edition, setting a marathon personal best of 2:26:56 to take second place.^[3] She had her first success at collegiate level, winning the half marathon at the 2007 Summer Universiade. Having won at the age of eighteen, the win was North Korea's second ever title at the Universiade.^[4] She ran at the Beijing Marathon later that year and managed tenth place.^[5]

At the Hong Kong Marathon, she had her first victory over the distance. She represented North Korea at the 2008 Summer Olympics and took twelfth place in the Olympic marathon race. The following year she returned to the Pyongyang Marathon and finished second again, this time to Phyo Un-suk.^[3] She ran at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics later that year and finished in twentieth place in the World Championship marathon race with a time of 2:31:24 (the best performer of the North Korean team). She ended her 2009 season by running a half marathon best of 1:11:55 to win at the 2009 East Asian Games.

In her fourth attempt at the course, Kim won the Pyongyang Marathon in 2:27:34, running her second fastest ever marathon and seeing off two-time champion Jong Yong-ok to take the honours.^[6]

Kim was elected to North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly in the 2009 North Korean parliamentary election, representing the 609th Electoral District,^[7] and in 2014, representing the 606th.^[8]

Achievements

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
Representing  North Korea
2006	Asian Marathon Championships	Beijing, China	1st	Marathon	2:35:16
2007	Universiade	Bangkok, Thailand	1st	Half marathon	1:12:31
2008	Hong Kong Marathon	Hong Kong, PR China	1st	Marathon	2:36:43
	Olympic Games	Beijing, PR China	12th	Marathon	2:30:01
2009	World Championships	Berlin, Germany	20th	Marathon	2:31:24
	East Asian Games	Bangkok, Thailand	1st	Half marathon	1:11.55
2010	Pyongyang Marathon	Pyongyang, North Korea	1st	Marathon	2:27:34
	Asian Games	Guangzhou, China	3rd	Marathon	2:27:06
2012	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	48th	Marathon	2:33:30
2013	Asian Marathon Championships	Hong Kong, China	1st	Marathon	2:32:21
2016	Olympic Games	Rio, Brazil	49th	Marathon	2:38:24

Personal bests

• Half marathon – 1:11:55 hrs (2009)
• Marathon – 2:26:56 hrs (2007)^{[citation needed]}

References

1. Jong Sun Bok (26 March 2015). "National conference of sportspersons held". The Pyongyang Times. Naenara. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
2. Marathon 2006. IAAF (2009-12-22). Retrieved on 2010-03-17.
3. Jalava, Mirko (2009-04-14). Two women go sub-2:30; Zemin takes surprise win in Pyongyang. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-17.
4. Robinson, Javier Clavelo (2007-08-12). Second gold for Manninen, Vasilevskis takes Javelin win in Bangkok – World University Games days 3. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-17.
5. Jiang, Yi (2007-10-21). Kinyanjui, Chen take top honours in Beijing – Beijing Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-03-17.
6. Jalava, Mirko (2010-04-12). Surprise victory by Babaryka in Pyongyang – Mangyongdae Prize Marathon report. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-04-12.
7. "[Annotated full list of elected MP's]" (XLS). North Korean Economy Watch. Retrieved 24 June 2018.
8. 중앙선거위 최고인민회의 제13기 대의원선거결과에 대하여 (in Korean). Korean Central News Agency. 11 March 2014. Archived from the original on 25 March 2014.

External links

• Kim Kum-ok at World Athletics
• Kim Kum-ok at Olympedia