Oh Joo-han to run for Korea at 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon

Oh Joo-han, whose Korean name means “running only for Korea,” will be able to participate in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic marathon. For Korea’s male marathon, it shall no longer be a dream to win a medal at the Olympics.

“We recently received an email from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) that Oh Joo-han will be able to represent Korea from March 7,” the Korea Association of Athletics Federations announced on Tuesday. Such detail is also specified on the athletics introduction page of the IAAF website.

The situation changed as the Korea Association of Athletics Federation and Professor Oh Chang-seok of Baekseok University requested for re-eval‎uation to the IAAF on grounds that “Oh Joo-han has been playing as a part of the Cheongyang county office since 2005 and has been voluntarily pushing forward to be naturalized” has been accepted. The international federation recognized the long and deep relationship between the marathoner and Korea and determined that Oh will be able to represent Korea and participate games immediately.

The Korea Association of Athletics Federation sent the person in charge to the IAAF last December to confirm‎ the relevant regulations closely. It took necessary measures to allow the naturalized Korean citizen from Kenya to represent Korea and completed the official application on February 12 this year.

Oh, four-time winner at the Seoul International Marathon cum Dong-A Marathon and three-time winner at the Gyeongju International Marathon, expressed his will to become naturalized immediately after winning the Seoul International Marathon in 2012.

The 30-year-old applied for naturalization since 2016 and passed the special naturalization of the Nationality Deliberation Committee under the Ministry of Justice last July.


Seung-Kun Lee why@donga.com