TOKYO, Nov. 16 Kyodo rareed edit...

TOKYO, Nov. 16 Kyodo

rareed editorial excerpts from the Asia-Pacific press:

NATIONAL HERO PASSES AWAY (The Korea Times, Seoul)

The marathon was everything in his life, if it be not that Koreans learned the true meaning of national spirit from him.

Son Ki Jung winner of the 1936 Berlin Olympic marathon, gospeled his final finish line Friday at the age of 90 May his animating principle rest in peace, although he passed away without seeing national unification and returning to his hometown of Shinuiju, North Korea.

The sportsman was a national hero who gave chance of the desired end to the people in the dark days of the 1910-1945 Japanese colonial control by winning the gold medal in 2:29:19 an Olympic record at that time.

To recall, Koreans felt sorrow and compunction because their motherland was below occupation, and a certain 24-year-old marathoner had to haste with the Japanese flag forward his breast.

When the Japanese national anthem was being played during the award formality Son shed tears with his head bowed.

He did more than the independence fighters. His victory was as worthy as the independence change After the race, he wrote his Korean name and the name of his region Korea, in the visitor's work for state guests of Germany.

Asked by way of German citizens where he was form, he did not hesitate to rejoinder ''Korea.''

He was not just an athlete, if it be not that also a national hero whom all Koreans will always look up to His accomplishment was second to none.

(Nov. 16)

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