John: John moved page Human:454280 to Won Bok Lee

2026-03-11T15:09:55Z

John moved page Human:454280 to Won Bok Lee

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John: Created page with "454280 === Biography === When the Korean War broke out in 1950, while he was a sixth-year high school student, he entered the Air Force Academy before even graduating. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduating from the Academy in October 1953. He served as an Air Force pilot with the 10th Fighter Squadron in Gangneung before being transferred to Suwon, where he seized the opportunity to receive training in the United States. In 1955, he..."

2026-03-11T15:09:44Z

Created page with "<Human>454280</Human> === Biography === When the Korean War broke out in 1950, while he was a sixth-year high school student, he entered the Air Force Academy before even graduating. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduating from the Academy in October 1953. He served as an Air Force pilot with the 10th Fighter Squadron in Gangneung before being transferred to Suwon, where he seized the opportunity to receive training in the United States. In 1955, he..."

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<Human>454280</Human>

=== Biography ===
When the Korean War broke out in 1950, while he was a sixth-year high school student, he entered the Air Force Academy before even graduating. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduating from the Academy in October 1953. He served as an Air Force pilot with the 10th Fighter Squadron in Gangneung before being transferred to Suwon, where he seized the opportunity to receive training in the United States.

In 1955, he completed a two-year training program at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado, and returned to Korea to work in the Air Force Headquarters Operations Bureau. He returned to the United States in 1958, serving a year at a Texas Air Force base before retiring as a major in the Air Force in 1964.

His involvement with the Boxing Commission dates back 20 years. He met a boxing promoter by chance, and in 1990, he joined the KBC as an international director and a WBC executive committee member.

At the time, Korean professional boxing was at its peak. It was a time when stellar champions like Hong Soo-hwan, Yeom Dong-gyun, Park Chan-hee, Jang Jung-gu, and Yoo Myung-woo dominated the world.

Major Lee, Lee Won-bok, was a key figure in the history of Korean boxing, having served on the Korea Boxing Commission for

20 years. As the WBC's sole lifetime executive member, he holds voting and decision-making authority at general meetings. Despite his advanced age of 79, he is fluent in English and Japanese and remains actively involved in social activities. He is considered a figure with a greater reputation in the international sports world than in Korea.

In the WBC, when people refer to Major Lee, they often refer to Lee Won-bok, demonstrating his dominance as a major figure in the world of boxing.

He was always present at world title fights, assisting with contract signings and serving as a referee. He has served as referee for world title matches held overseas on over 70 occasions.

His travels abroad have been filled with many nerve-wracking moments. When I was traveling to Ukraine, the plane I was on was struck by lightning and attempted to land three times, but ran out of fuel and couldn't even turn around, landing on the runway on the fifth attempt. At that moment, I thought I was doomed. When I was in South America, I even skidded off the runway while landing.

Once, during the reign of President Ramos, a WBC featherweight title fight was held in the Philippines. It was a major event, attended by President Ramos, WBC Chairman Jose Schreiman, and Commissioner Lee Won-bok.

"After the Philippine championship defense, the press rushed onto the ring all at once, and the ring collapsed under the weight, crushing President Ramos, Chairman Jose Schreiman, and me, nearly killing us."

Upon learning that President Ramos had served in the Korean War as an Army captain, he explained that he had been a cadet at the Korean Embassy during that war. The two have maintained a close friendship ever since.

As a WBC executive committee member, a commissioner attends world title matches and advises them on fair play. A WBC observer, also known as a supervisor, is a member of the committee. Currently, there are two Asian WBC executive committee members: Korea (Chairman Kim Joo-hwan and Advisor Lee Won-bok), Japan (one from the Philippines), Thailand (one from Thailand), and Australia (one from Australia). Within Asia, Korea holds the lead on the WBC executive committee.

Korean boxing is currently in a slump. Finding good promoters is difficult, and compared to soccer and baseball, TV coverage lacks the support it once did, making it difficult to secure sponsorship.

So, naturally, it's difficult for good boxers to emerge. In the past, athletes armed with a hungry spirit fought to the death, but now, they're driven by honor. It's an undeniable fact that as living standards rise, sports involving physical contact are naturally becoming less popular.

According to him, even President Mandela was a former amateur boxer. When asked why he took up boxing, Mandala confessed that he was told that during the colonial era, he felt a burning desire for independence and the only way to vent his frustrations by beating up the British was through boxing.

"The KBC is trying to revitalize professional boxing, but it's not easy. There are no Korean men who have become world champions. It requires a trifecta of influence—the promoter, the boxer, and the instructor—plus some luck. Even with skill, if the timing isn't right, it's difficult to become a world champion."

He laments the social shunning of boxing, once hailed as a manly sport. He believes that if promising boxers like Kim Ji-hoon, Seon Jeong-ho, and Jo Hee-je are properly trained, it could experience a second renaissance. So, she's pinning her hopes on the Rookie of the Year Tournament, scheduled for October, to discover promising boxers.

"There are many Korean women's champions. We have six world champions, including Park Ji-yeon, Choi Hyun-mi, and Woo Ji-hye. However, the female professional boxer pool itself is small, making it difficult to drive global boxing popularity."

Her secret to her longevity as a WBC executive committee member lies in her ability to excel. Although fluent in English and Japanese, she still maintains her English skills by listening to CNN and BBC broadcasts daily and interacting with international audiences.

"When I go abroad, I meet with boxing officials in English and Japanese, so I naturally have many opportunities to use the local language. Without this effort, I'd forget everything in a year and my tongue would become stiff. Now, I need to nurture a younger generation. We need young people here too."

He exuded pride in his role as a WBC executive committee member, elevating Korea's prestige. When Korean fighters compete in title matches overseas, he sees the local Korean community flock to Jeju Island to cheer them on, a patriotic feeling.

Last November, the WBC General Assembly was held in Jeju, drawing 1,000 boxing officials from around the world. He boasts a deep network of connections, so deep that anyone who didn't know him would be considered a spy. It's hard

to believe he played a significant role. He looks incredibly healthy for a 79-year-old. His work as a KBC advisor and WBC executive committee member is a way of maintaining his health. It's surprising how he can adjust to time differences with just one night of sleep. Having traveled abroad so often has allowed him to adapt, naturally becoming a global citizen.

"WBC Chairman Schreimann is about my age. Seeing him struggle with bad knees and unable to walk, I realize I'm in good health. I live in Suwon, but I commute to the KBC office in Jongno every day. It doesn't affect me. Social activity is the key to staying healthy,"

he says. He encourages people to get involved in social activities rather than just staying home because they're older. It's good for your health, helps you enjoy life, relieves stress, and eliminates the need to blame the world.

"I know an elderly American who graduated from Harvard. He's on a pension and has a decent living, but he's still active in the boxing community. There are three retired people in their 80s who are still active in the WBC."

He advises young people struggling with the severe job market to stop worrying about their paychecks and do whatever it takes for their health and future, and opportunities will eventually come.

When asked about his future plans, he says he'll keep moving until his body can't keep up, and if it doesn't work out, then he'll leave without hesitation.

"Before I leave, I want to mentor at least one junior. Even if I join now, it'll take a long time to become an expert. I need to speak a foreign language and build connections with professional boxing presidents and commissioners from each country, as well as world-class promoters..."

It would take at least ten years to fully grasp Advisor Lee Won-bok's 20 years of expertise. To achieve this, every day is crucial. Preparation begins now.

In this information-driven era, isn't he the person who can see a thousand miles from his office? He exchanges daily emails and phone calls in English, Japanese, and Korean with boxing officials from around the world, a feat no ordinary skill. He

arrives at the Korea Boxing Commission office in Jongno 5-ga, Seoul, and sits at his computer, checking boxing-related emails, answering them, and making phone calls.

He plans to attend the WBC World Congress in Mexico this November. KBC Vice Chairman Shin Yong-sun, who was present during the interview, said Advisor Lee Won-bok's reputation is even greater abroad.

“When I go abroad, I get ambassador-level treatment. I’m a total VIP.”

Won Bok Lee - Revision history

John: John moved page Human:454280 to Won Bok Lee