Started archery at 25, won an Asian Games medal: Beautiful archer Park Jung-yoon says, "It is a blessing to make my passion my profession" [On-site in Okazaki]

*This content was translated by AI.

"I never regret the choices I have made."

Park Jung-yoon (29, Changwon City Hall), a compound archery national team member for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan, is known for her "unusual background." She did not become a national team athlete through consistent competition since childhood. Instead, she quit her job just four to five years ago at the age of 25 to fully commit to becoming an archer. Despite this late start, she has made it to the Asian Games stage.

Of course, she was not entirely unconnected to archery. She lived as an archery athlete until elementary school but put down her bow upon entering middle school. It was a result of career deliberation during an age when one typically has many interests. For over 10 years afterward, she lived the life of a non-athlete. She entered the workforce immediately after graduating high school and worked for seven years. However, she always kept archery in mind. She decided to draw the bow again, even if only as an amateur.

Even practicing archery merely as a hobby, her natural talent could not be hidden. As her scores gradually improved, she eventually made up her mind following the "recommendation to become an athlete" from her coach at the time. Her coach supported her with everything from equipment to lessons. After being selected for the national team, she even quit her job. Of course, it was by no means easy. Embarking on a professional athletic career in one's mid-20s could have been a reckless choice.

However, Park Jung-yoon pushed forward with her determination. She lived the life of "archer" Park Jung-yoon, not office worker Park Jung-yoon. Her efforts bore fruit. After maintaining a consistent upward trajectory, she eventually became a national team member for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. She survived the fierce competition for national team spots in archery, where becoming a national team member is often considered more difficult than winning a medal at a major tournament.

It was not just about participating in the Asian Games. On the 26th, she ranked third overall, the highest among Korean athletes, in the compound women's ranking round held at Okazaki Central Comprehensive Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The next day, she and Choi Yong-hee set a "world record" by hitting all 16 arrows at 10 points in their Round of 16 mixed team match against Japan.

She even made it to the podium. She won a bronze medal in the women's team event held on the 30th, followed by a silver medal in the mixed team event. Just four to five years after seriously beginning her path as an archer at age 25, she has risen to become one of Asia's top-tier athletes. It was a moment when she was recognized not only for her appearance, often referred to as that of a "beautiful archer," but also for her skill.

After winning two medals on the 30th, Park Jung-yoon reflected during a meeting with reporters: "I was originally an archery athlete in elementary school, but I quit when I went to middle school. Still, it remained in my heart. As an adult, I thought I should try again, even if just as an amateur. My scores gradually improved, and my teacher said, 'Jung-yoon, let's try being a professional athlete,' so I made up my mind."

She continued, "I never regret the choices I have made," adding with a smile, "I am grateful simply because I can make what I love my profession." She does not regret choosing the path of an athlete over a stable office job; rather, she finds great meaning in archery itself.

She won a bronze medal in the women's team event alongside Park Ye-rin (Korea National Sport University) and Kang Yeon-seo (Seongsa Middle School), and a silver medal in the mixed team event with Choi Yong-hee (Hyundai Steel). Now, she sets her sights on "gold." The remaining event is the "individual" competition on the 1st. In the previous two events, she relied on and combined forces with other athletes, but now she must navigate it solely with her own strength. Perhaps this is the stage where the skill and current standing of "archer" Park Jung-yoon will be best revealed.

She is full of confidence. In the ranking round, she already ranked third by shooting 32 tens, the second-highest number among 53 athletes. She trails first-place India's Chikita Taniparti by three points. Although she repeatedly failed to overcome the wall of "world's strongest" India in team events, she gained confidence, saying it was "worth a try." Now, there is even an element of revenge. Having won bronze and silver medals one after another in a single day, her goal is now gold alone. Park Jung-yoon also smiled, saying, "I will bring home gold, silver, and bronze."

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*This content was translated by AI.