Kwon No-gap (95), chairman of the Kim Dae-jung Foundation, made headlines by recording his first career shot eagle on the golf course.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Chairman Kwon made his eagle on the 15th hole (par 4) at Anyang Country Club in Gunpo, Gyeonggi Province, on the 24th, by sinking a shot taken with a utility club. The distance was about 125 yards, and he achieved the eagle by putting the ball directly into the hole.
Born in 1930, Chairman Kwon said, "I made five birdies, one eagle, and two bogeys today, finishing with a score of 70," adding that "today is the first time I have achieved a shot eagle since I learned golf late in the early 1990s when I was over 60 years old."
Known for enjoying exercise, he stated, "When I was young, I liked sports so much that I practiced boxing, basketball, baseball, and judo, and I still enjoy golf healthily now," and mentioned, "I still occasionally go out on the field with reporters and acquaintances who used to frequent the Blue House."
Chairman Kwon is also passionate about his studies. He received a master's degree in English literature from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies at the age of 83 in 2013, making him the oldest graduate of the university at that time. He noted, "Two years ago, I started the doctoral program in English literature at the university and completed it this semester, and I will receive my doctoral degree once I write my thesis."
Chairman Kwon expressed that "learning is still fun for me" and indicated that he will continue to pursue his studies.
Kwon No-gap is a longtime political ally of the late Kim Dae-jung, having worked together since the 1960s in roles such as secretary, assistant, and chief of staff. He was elected as a member of the National Assembly in 1988 and served three consecutive terms. He has also held positions as chairman of the Council for the Promotion of Democracy and senior advisor to the Democratic Party of Korea.