| Kang Dong-suk | |||||||||||
| Other Names: | Donald Kang | ||||||||||
| Birth Name: | Kang Dong-suk | ||||||||||
| Birth Date: | 1969 5, df=yes | ||||||||||
| Birth Place: | Hapcheon, South Korea | ||||||||||
| Occupation: | Yachtsman | ||||||||||
| Known For: | First Korean to complete a solo circumnavigation of the globe in a yacht | ||||||||||
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Kang Dong-suk (; born May 25, 1969; Donald Kang) is a yachtsman and adventurer from South Korea.[1]
On June 8, 1997, he became the first Korean to sail around the world single-handedly, when he completed a circumnavigation on a 30-foot (9.2-meter) sailboat Pioneer 2 (선구자 2), covering over 70,000 kilometers in 3 years and 5 months.[2] [3] In 1991, he completed the first single-handed sailing voyage of the Pacific by a Korean in his first sailboat Pioneer 1 (선구자 1), a 29-foot (8.7-meter) boat, travelling the distance of 11,700 kilometers in 7 months. After arriving in Korea, he donated the Pioneer 1 to the Korea Naval Academy.
The Republic of Korea Navy, in recognition of Kang's sailing achievements, awarded him the first ever Honorary Member of the Republic of Korea Navy (명예해군) title.[4] In November 1997, following his return from the sailing solo-circumnavigation, South Korean President Kim Young-sam invited Kang to the Blue House and awarded him the "New Korean" (신한국인) title.[5]
In 1999, as a member of a Korean climbing team, he attempted to summit Broad Peak in the Himalayas, the 12th highest mountain in the world.[6] The team had to turn back when a climbing member fell to his death.[7]
After his return from the Himalayas, Kang graduated from UCLA and worked at Deloitte as a public accountant.[8] In 2005, Kang served as the expedition manager for the Korean mountaineer Park Young-seok's North Pole expedition, supporting Park achieve an Explorers Grand Slam.[9] Park became the first person to climb all 14 Eight-thousanders and achieve the Explorers Grand Slam.[10]
Kang chronicled his sailing adventures in his book Yes I am passionate about the sea. He also gives frequent lectures about his experience and expeditions. Sailboats (Pioneers 1 and 2) used by Kang for his sailing voyages are on display at the Korea Naval Academy and the Korea National Maritime Museum.[11] Kang currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, working as an accountant.
| Years | Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| 1990-1991 | Single-handed crossing of the Pacific | |
| 1994-1997 | Single-handed circumnavigation | |
| 1999 | Broad Peak climbing expedition - 12th highest mountain in the world | |
| 2005 | North Pole expedition |
| Year | Awards | |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Honorary Member of the Republic of Korea Navy, 1st | |
| 1997 | Presidential Award - New Korean (Awarded by South Korean President Kim Young-Sam) | |
| 1997 | Honorary Citizen - City of Busan[12] | |
| 1997 | Korea Sea Scouts Jang Bo-go Award[13] | |
| 2014 | Goodwill Ambassador for Korea National Maritime Museum[14] | |
| 2023 | Goodwill Ambassador for Sancheong Expo[15] | |
| 2023 | Honorary Captain of Korea Maritime and Ocean University, 3rd[16] |