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| "Football coach Son Woong-jung, 'Modesty is my strength.'" A photo by Korea Times photographer Choi Won-suk topped the Best Portrait Photo category at the 258th monthly press photo contest hosted by the Korea Press Photographers' Association (KPPA), Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Lee Hae-rin
Korea Times photojournalist Choi Won-suk won an award at a monthly press photo contest hosted by the Korea Press Photographers Association (KPPA), Wednesday.
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| Choi Won-suk / Korea Times file photo |
The award-winning work of Choi, published on July 19, captures football coach Son tying his shoelace before a training session with young athletes begins at his Son Football Academy in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
![[EXCLUSIVE] With tough love, Son Heung-min's father nurtures teen footballers](https://img.koreatimes.co.kr/upload/thumbnailV2/9efcf7e077c24fcb8da7073c9f3f4899.jpg/dims/resize/84/optimize)
Under the belief that a good football field is like a safe and solid home for athletes, Son built the 66,000-square-meter football utopia to pass on his knowhow and expertise and nurture the next generation of Korean footballers.
As an educator, Son focuses on mastering the basics while cultivating diligence and modesty. He serves himself as an example of his teaching by participating in every training session.
Apart from being a junior football coach, Son diligently devotes himself to maintaining an orderly and clean life space, is an avid reader and adheres to a philosophy of keeping possessions to a minimum. While living in Germany and in the United Kingdom to support his son's athletic career, he only brought with him a light suitcase consisting of some sportswear clothes and books.
The KPPA gives awards in five other categories: news, sports, feature, nature and story.
This is Choi's 13th award from the KPPA since joining The Korea Times in 2014.
