KOREAN K-2 EXPEDITION LEADER KIM WI-YEONG
PART OF KOREAN-AMERICAN CONTROVERSY
Hwang Ki-Yong scales K-2
AUGUST12-2000
By
Asem Mustafa Awan
ISLAMABAD
— Seven member Korean expedition from Taegu Branch of Corean Alpine Club
returned to Capital on Friday.
The
team placed one climber on the summit of K-2 on July 30 at 11:14 am from
the South East Aburuzzi Ridge.
Of
the eight expeditions attempting K-2 the Taegu team was the first to
establish the route on K-2 from Advance Base Camp 5500 metres to Shoulder
at 7900 metres.
Thirty-one
year old Hwang Ki-Yong reached the summit first on July 30 using oxygen
followed by Yamanoi of Japan, and four members of the American
international expedition Chris Shaw, Andy Evans Andy Collins and Billy.
Forty
five year old Kim Wi-Yeong lead the team.
Lee
Seung-Ik member of the expedition interpreted the entire conversation for
the leader Kim Wi-Yeong who said," We met Fabrizio member of the
international team on August 7/8 in Skardu."
We
were not aware of the row between Mr Yoo Han Kyu expedition and American
leader Gary Pfisterer team at that time.
We
left the Base Camp on August 3 very early and it was Fabrizio who told us
what had happened in Skardu.
"His
rescue of the high altitude porter (Ali Muhammad Jangjungpa), the report
on the net and Yoo Han Kyu's protest."
"Fabrizio told us (Kim Wi-Yeong and members) that he brought the porter down from Camp 4 to Camp 2."
"Fabrizio
apologized to us that he is sorry for the trouble he had caused."
We
are not sure whether it was joke but apparently he apologized to us.
"We
don't know much about the facts so we can't say more."
CAPTION: Corean Alpine Club expedition leader Kim Wi-Yeong sitting in the center, Hwang Ki-Yong (standing 2nd Right) and Lee In-Sik (standing 2nd Left) Lee Seung-Ik (member/ interpreter).—Photo by the write.