Park Ji-sung Named “Asia’s Hero” by Time Magazine

Soccer player Park Ji-sung (24, Manchester United), who is currently making an outstanding showing in Britain’s Premier League, was included among the list of Asia’s heroes compiled by Time magazine. The October 3 issue of Time Asia featured 20 prominent figures in Asia in its cover story, entitled “2005 Asia’s Heroes,” and named Park as a hero in the sports category. Sharing the honor is tennis player Sania Mirza, who became the first Indian to make the round of 16 in this year’s U.S. Open.

Other names on the list of “Asia’s Heroes” include Ken Watanabe, an Oscar nominee last year for his role in “The Last Samurai,” and Chinese actress Zhang Jingchu, who is being hailed as the “second Zhang Ziyi.” A civic group composed of Acehnese women who came together to rebuild their wrecked village after the tsunami in Indonesia has also been honored in the list.

Mi-Kyung Jung mickey@donga.com