The South Korean drama Crash Landing on You tells the story of a South Korean chaebol heiress who lands in North Korea due to a paragliding accident caused by strong wind. She meets a military officer there, and an unusual love story unfolds.
The officer eventually defects for love, and the drama’s gripping plot achieved record-breaking viewership and sparked widespread discussion. Remarkably, 30 years ago in Taiwan, a real-life version of Crash Landing on You involved North Korean judo athlete Lee Chang-soo and Taiwanese judo athlete Chen Ling-chen.
North Korean international judo competitor
Lee Chang-soo was born in North Korea and became a judo expert by 18, winning numerous domestic competitions. He represented North Korea in 25 international competitions, earning 17 medals. In North Korea, possessing a “Kim Il-sung Medal” guarantees a lifetime of prosperity, and Lee owned four of them. In 1989, while representing North Korea at the World Judo Championships in Yugoslavia, Lee met Taiwanese judo athlete Chen Ling-chen.
The two fell in love at first sight, and despite the language barrier, they managed to have brief meetings after the competition, spending wonderful times together. Although they were dating, they couldn’t communicate through letters and could only meet at competitions, so they agreed to participate in the Asian Games in Beijing the following year. Before parting, they took a photo together, and Lee secretly seized the opportunity to kiss Chen on the cheek.
That year, Lee won a bronze medal in the men’s under 71 kg category. Upon returning to North Korea, he was praised by the government and rewarded with a luxury car and a comfortable lifestyle. With no rivals left in North Korea, he was set to compete in the Asian Games in Beijing the following year. Unexpectedly, Chen lost in the Taiwanese selection for the Beijing Asian Games. Determined to see Lee, she challenged herself by competing in the unlimited weight category, eventually defeating heavier opponents to win the championship and represent Taiwan.
The two finally reunited at the Asian Judo Championships in Beijing in September 1990. In the Asian Games finals, Lee lost to a South Korean opponent, winning a silver medal. Upon returning to North Korea, he was maliciously slandered by jealous officials and athletes. The then-North Korean leader, Kim Il-sung, ordered him to be sent to a coal mine for hard labor. Feeling betrayed by his country and longing for his lover, Lee resolved to defect.
The following year, North Korean authorities released Lee to allow him to participate in the World Judo Championships in Barcelona, Spain, in July 1991. Chen also attended the event as a researcher, giving them another chance to meet. In the competition, Lee was defeated in the first round by an opponent from Cyprus.
After the championship, he boarded a train from Barcelona to North Korea. Upon reaching Berlin, he intoxicated his coach and teammates. Once everyone was unconscious, he jumped off the train before it departed, seeking political asylum at the South Korean embassy in Germany. On August 4th of the same year, he successfully defected to South Korea.
After successfully defecting, Lee publicly searched for his girlfriend, Chen Ling-chen, at a press conference. Chen learned about the situation through newspapers, contacted Lee, and traveled to South Korea despite opposition from friends and family. Upon their fourth meeting, they decided to spend their lives together. Their acquaintance and union were filled with hardships and touching moments, leading to a happy ending.
After marrying, Lee and Chen settled in Seoul and opened a judo school, raising three sons. In 2014, Lee went to Taiwan to teach at the National Taiwan University of Sport and also served as a coach for the Chinese Taipei team at the National Sports Training Center.
In 2020, their story drew comparisons to the drama Crash Landing on You, which Taiwanese and Hong Kong media dubbed the real-life version. All three of their sons received judo training and have competed as athletes.
After retiring from judo, their eldest son, Lee Bao-jin, won the World Handsome Man Contest representing South Korea. The other two sons continue to specialize in judo, with the second son being a member of the South Korean national judo team, winning a gold medal at the 2019 World Judo Championships, and the youngest son winning a championship in a Hong Kong competition the same year.
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