One-Legged Disabled Veterans and Stage 4 Cancer Survivors Take On 54-Hole 'Ironman Golf' Challenge in a Day

Challenge at the 8th Jeje Band Ironman Golf Festival

"We Will Bring Hope to Those Facing Despair"

Baseball Legend Lim Chang-yong Steps Up as Their Safety Helper

In celebration of the Month of Patriots and Veterans, a veteran who lost his leg for his country and now uses a prosthetic, along with a discharged soldier who overcame stage 4 cancer, are taking on the extreme challenge of completing 54 holes in a single day in an 'Ironman Golf' event.

On the 15th at Jeju Booyoung Country Club, Malobuddy (left), a golf YouTuber and cancer stage 4 survivor who is a veteran, golfer Park Woosik (center), a one-legged disabled veteran who dedicated his legs to the country, and baseball legend Lim Chang-yong (right), who volunteered as a safety assistant to ensure their safe completion, are taking a commemorative photo on the field. (Photo by Park Woosik)

The event, which will be held on June 15 at Jeju Booyoung Country Club, will feature legendary national team-level disabled golfer Park Woosik (68) and Jeju-born Min Byungkwon (59), a two-time national tournament champion, who will demonstrate their fighting spirit by breaking through physical limits.

Joining them is Malobuddy (56), a golf YouTuber and discharged veteran who overcame stage 4 cancer, taking part as a co-challenger to commemorate the Month of Patriots and Veterans. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Lim Chang-yong will quietly accompany them as an unpaid safety helper, delivering a powerful message of human triumph without excuses.

The core of this challenge lies in the determination of one-legged disabled veteran golfers who lost a leg in an explosion during their military service.

By overcoming physical barriers and walking the golf course, these individuals represent both the living history and the future of disabled golf in South Korea.

Born in 1958, Park Woosik was a pioneer who, even before the concept of disabled golf was widely recognized, competed using a prosthetic leg against able-bodied players and placed 18th nationally in the 2017 Korea Mid-Amateur Golf Federation Bridgestone Finals.

Following in the footsteps of this legend—who also represented South Korea in the U.S. Adaptive Open (the disabled U.S. Open)—this event will feature next-generation ace Min Byungkwon taking the baton.

Born in 1967, Min was a double silver medalist at last year's National Para Games and is a two-time consecutive champion of the Gyeongbuk Disabled Harmony Tournament. Through this joint completion of 54 holes, the two heroes aim to demonstrate both a perfect generational shift and unyielding determination.

They expressed their firm resolve, saying, "Disability is merely an inconvenience in life, not a barrier," as they set their sights on completing all 54 holes.

In celebration of the Month of Patriots and Veterans, Min Byungkwon (left), the next-generation ace of Korean disabled golf, and legendary national team player Park Woosik (right) are embarking on the extreme challenge of playing 54 holes of ironman golf in one day. On the field in Jeju, they clench their fists, demonstrating their resolute determination to take on this challenge. (Photo by Park Woosik)

Golf YouTuber Malobuddy, who shares their purpose, is an 11-year long-serving discharged veteran who overcame stage 4 cancer. He set a Korean Ironman Golf record in 2022 and organized the world’s first official three-round match in 2023, but had to leave the course after being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.

What lifted him up at the crossroads of life and death were the disabled veterans who, despite losing limbs, continued to forge ahead with dignity.

He stated, "When I was on the brink in my own life, seeing the spirit of disabled veteran golfers gave me the strength to stand up again. I hope this challenge offers a spark of hope for others who are struggling, showing that no matter how hard things get, as long as you have the will, there’s no excuse in life or in golf." With this message, he decided to join the 54-hole journey.

To help this special team complete the challenge safely, legendary pitcher Lim Chang-yong, who dominated professional baseball in South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, stepped up as a supporter. While currently taking time away from the spotlight, he will quietly accompany the one-legged veteran golfers, ensuring safety and assistance on the field.

Meanwhile, in line with the heroes’ challenge, the 8th Ironman Golf Festival hosted by Jeje Band will see a large-scale participation of 47 teams (188 players), who will take to the field and share in a meaningful act of giving.

Especially for this tournament, the specially prepared par-3 'Patriots and Veterans Buddy Zone' will see a fund accumulated every time a participant makes a birdie, with all proceeds donated to support disabled veteran golfers’ participation in future international competitions and their rehabilitation efforts.

Jeje Band Chairman Hwang Jincheol said, "Since the first event, we have organized something special every year, but seeing these veterans rise up with indomitable spirit for the Month of Patriots and Veterans fills me with genuine respect. I hope their great challenge brings hope to those who might be considering giving up in despair, and we will make sure to finish the festival safely until the end."

The 54-hole Ironman Golf challenge created by disabled veterans who have lost limbs and discharged soldiers who have overcome cancer is now ready to begin.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.