Former women's national basketball team player the late Kim Young-hee died three years ago.
The deceased passed away on Jan. 31, 2023, at the age of 60 after a long battle with illness. The cause of death was complications from a cervical spine fracture.
According to an acquaintance, Kim Young-hee usually kept in touch with those around her by calling every morning and evening, but she could not be reached on the day of the accident. Later, while returning from the restroom she fell and severely injured her neck; at first she remained conscious, but her condition rapidly deteriorated and she ultimately died of cardiac arrest.
Kim Young-hee was an indispensable figure in the history of women's basketball in Korea. Standing over 200 cm, she dominated the court as the era's tallest center in the 1980s. After attending Soongui Girls' High School, she played for the corporate team Hankook Cosmetics, and at the 1983 basketball tournament she swept first place in scoring and rebounds, the popularity award and the most valuable player award, enjoying her prime.
Her contributions as a national team player were also brilliant. She won silver medals at the 1982 New Delhi Asian Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, and wore the Taegeuk mark through the 1986 Seoul Asian Games. For these achievements she was awarded the national sports medals Baekmajang and Maenghojang.
But her glittering career did not last long. In 1987, while training ahead of the Seoul Olympics, she collapsed and was diagnosed with acromegaly. It was a rare disease in which excess growth hormone causes enlargement of the body and organs. After leaving the basketball court, Kim Young-hee suffered a long battle with various complications, including brain tumor, hypoglycemia, thyroid disease and bowel obstruction.
Her life became increasingly difficult during her illness. Once the symbol of Korean women's basketball, she faced financial hardship after retirement. In an update video released on the YouTube channel "Geunhwang Olympic" in 2021, Kim Young-hee calmly said, "I live on an Olympic pension of 700,000 won a month," drawing sympathy from many.
Afterward, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism provided special subsidies, and basketball figures including Seo Jang-hoon and the fan club "Hero Era" of singer Lim Young-woong reached out to help. Through broadcasts and interviews, Kim Young-hee also expressed gratitude, saying, "Lim Young-woong's songs were a great support during my illness."
Because of her height she had to endure a lifetime of biased stares; despite suffering from depression she tried to stay connected to society by participating in volunteer work for children with disabilities. Ultimately she could not overcome her worsened illness, and she had a quiet funeral without a wake, meeting a lonely end.
After her death, a moment of silent mourning continued at Women's Korean Basketball League (WKBL) games, and basketball figures honored her as "a symbol of Korean women's basketball".
[Photo] capture from 'Star Documentary - My Way'
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