[Anchor]
Lee Seung-min, who made history as the first professional golfer with a developmental disability and achieved a "Grand Slam" on the global stage, is often called the "Woo Young-woo of the golf world." He has now expressed his determination to take on a new challenge—winning a Paralympic Gold Medal—to gift hope to his junior athletes.
Reporter Seo Dae-won has the story.
[Reporter]
Lee Seung-min has participated for five consecutive years since its inaugural event in the Adaptive Open, an event where professional golfers with and without developmental disabilities compete together, spending meaningful time with his younger peers.
[Lee Seung-min / Professional Golfer: When I come here, I get to meet many developmental disability athletes who, like my past self, dream of becoming professional golfers and playing on the world stage. I think of this as a place to share dreams with my junior peers.]
[Heo Do-kyung (18 years old): I'm going to become a KPGA (Korea Professional Golfers' Association) player just like Pro Lee Seung-min and become a famous player.]
Nine years ago at the age of 20, Lee became the first golfer with a developmental disability to earn full membership on the Korea Professional Golf Tour. Starting with the US Adaptive Open four years ago, and followed by Australia's All Abilities Championship in 2024 and the G4D Open held in Wales in May of this year, he completed a "Career Grand Slam" by sweeping all three major championships in disabled golf.
Having written new history through relentless challenges, Lee has another dream he is determined to achieve.
[Lee Seung-min / Professional Golfer: If golf ever becomes an official Paralympic event, my goal is to compete as a national representative and win the inaugural gold medal.]
He plans to continue his challenges for the younger athletes who nurture their dreams by watching him.
[Lee Seung-min / Professional Golfer: I hope my juniors look at my challenges and think, "Seung-min hyung did it, so I can do it too." That is one of the biggest dreams I want to achieve moving forward.]
(Camera footage: Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video editing: Lee Jae-sung)
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