'Smile Jumper' Woo Sang-hyuk (27-Yongin City Hall-photo) has won the Korea Sports Award.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a ceremony at The Plaza Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Oct. 31 to mark Sports Day (Oct. 15) and awarded men's high jumper Woo Sang-hyuk with the Korea Sports Award. Established in 1963 and now in its 61st year, the Korea Sports Award recognizes athletes who have achieved the most outstanding results in eight fields, including competition, coaching and refereeing. Woo became the first Korean athlete to win the World Athletics Federation Diamond League Final in September, and he also won a silver medal at the Hangzhou Asian Games, which concluded on August 8.

The father of women's national badminton player Ahn Se-young (21-Samsung Life), Stable Hyun, 54, secretary general of the Naju Sports Association in South Jeolla Province, received a special award, the Jang Han Father of Athletes Award. Ahn won her first singles gold medal in 29 years at the Hangzhou Asian Games. Ahn also raised Ahn's younger brother, Ahn Yun-sung (20-Samsung Life), to become a national athlete.

Mr. Heo Gil-nam, 80, the father of Heo Seung-wook, 51, a former national alpine skier who competed in five consecutive Winter Olympics, received the same award. Mr. Heo was recognized for his contribution to the development of national sports by nurturing a generation of skiers, including his son Heo Seung-wook, daughter Seung-eun (50), grandson Do-hyun (19) and only grandson Jung Min-sik (26). 19가이드03