A promising wrestling athlete has drawn attention after sending a handwritten letter to President Lee Jae-myung asking, "Please allow women to join the Navy Underwater Demolition Unit (UDU)."
According to Chilgok County in North Gyeongsang Province on the 14th, sixth grader Im Ha-gyeong of Yakdong Elementary School in Chilgok visited the county office's planning office the previous day with a letter she wrote to the president and delivered it, saying, "Please make sure to pass this on to the president."
In the letter, Im wrote, "Mr. President, I am Im Ha-gyeong, a girl who wrestles. Please let women enter the UDU special forces where my father served. I will work hard and win an Olympic gold medal. I look forward to your reply."
The UDU is an elite special forces unit under the Defense Intelligence Command that carries out high-difficulty maritime and underwater infiltration operations. Im is said to have come to dream of joining the UDU under the strong influence of her father, Im Jong-gu, who served in the UDU.
Im is reported to have often told his daughter, "If there is no nation, there is no me," and "Keep going until it works."
Having often heard such words, Im said she wanted to "become strong like Dad" and nurtured her dream of the UDU, but recently learned that the UDU does not recruit women.
So Im told her family and acquaintances, "I will ask the president directly," then actually wrote the letter and went to the county office.
Im is a promising athlete who reached No. 1 in the unified boys and girls elementary 60 kg freestyle rankings.
Im's specialty is the tackle, and starting with the national wrestling competition held in Jangheung County, South Jeolla, in April, she won three straight freestyle individual titles through the "50th KBS Cup Yang Jung-mo Olympic Conquest Commemorative National Wrestling Tournament" in June and the "53rd Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister's Cup National Student Wrestling Championships."
Having started wrestling just a year ago and beaten all boys her age to reach the top, Im's remaining dreams are to win an Olympic gold medal, join the UDU, and become a celebrity who helps neighbors in need.
Kim Jae-uk, the Chilgok county chief, said, "Im, who has shown strong will and achievement, is the pride of the region," adding, "We will spare no support so she can boldly pursue her dream."