Old soldiers never die

Chung Jeh-won
The author is a culture and sports news director of the JoongAng Ilbo.

Actor Shin Gu was born in 1936 and is 88 years old. Park Geun-hyung, another actor, was born in 1940 and is 84 years old. Both men are veteran actors currently starring in the play “Waiting for Godot.” The passionate performances of the two octogenarian actors are amazing. In the play, they flawlessly exchange dialogue for 130 minutes straight and only pause briefly for a 20-minute intermission. It was impressive how the actors spoke in dry tones and still managed to move the hearts of the audience.

The combined age of the two actors is 172 years old, and Shin and Park are the oldest actors to play Vladimir and Estragon, the two main characters in the play that premiered in France in 1953.

When asked about their long career, the old actors said with a smile, “We just act. Actors must stop acting when they can’t memorize lines anymore.”

K. J. Choi, 54, a veteran golfer in KPGA, smiles in a press conference after winning the trophy of SK Telecom Open, May 19. [KPGA]

Baseball manager Kim Seong-keun was born in 1942 and is 82 years old. He is leading the Strongest Monsters team in the JTBC program “A Clean Sweep.” Kim takes the bat himself, trains players for defense and gives sharp commentary that changes the players. “Even when you get older, there is no place for you if you don’t grow. Always look forward, look into the future,” Kim says.

Last month, K. J. Choi, a 54-year-old veteran golfer, won a tournament against players much younger than him. The overtime of the tournament felt like a miracle from a drama. Though Choi’s tee shot distance was about 40 yards shorter than the golfer 13 years younger than him, he did not give up. Fighting against back pain, he swung a No. 3 wood club while younger players used a short iron. He overcame a sense of defeat, got back up and set the record as the oldest champion to win a men’s professional golf match in Korea.

Choi’s victory deserves admiration for playing against young players in their 20s and 30s when he is in his mid-50s. Nevertheless, what is more surprising is his challenging spirit of not being complacent with reality.

Choi is a veteran who won eight PGA Tour titles since his debut in 2000. His PGA Tour records show how great his achievements are. Over 24 years, he participated in 498 competitions and passed the cutoff 337 times, meaning he passed preliminary rounds 67 percent of the time. He made the top ten ranking 68 times, or 13 percent of the times he participated. In other words, when he participated in ten games, he passed the preliminary rounds seven times and finished in the top ten in one of them. He earned $32.8 million over the span of 24 years. In short, Choi is the most notable case of self-made athletes.

Even at the age of 54, Choi never stops. He is nicknamed “Tank,” and his motto is “Dash Forward.” He experienced indescribable hardship during his 24 years in America. In 2018, he revealed that he had undergone a surgery for thyroid cancer. He looked noticeably weak for a while, but rose again. Now in his mid-50s, he has wrinkles and gray hair. It wouldn’t be strange if he retired and enjoys a comfortable life.

Instead, Choi still enjoys the challenge of the field. He participates in the Champions Tour for golfers over 50 and is also training to compete against other players — and himself.

Choi is the embodiment of self-control. He used to be a heavy smoker, but quit a long time ago. He does not drink alcohol and also stopped drinking soda and coffee. He lives the life of a truth seeker and stands out among his peers. Playing in heat and storms, Choi sets an example for juniors who are intoxicated with small achievements in their late 20s and early 30s and retire early.

The veterans teach us the lessons of having strict work ethics and a constantly challenging spirit. Legendary actors Shin Gu and Park Geun-hyung, baseball coach Kim Sung-keun and active golfer K. J. Choi are living proof of applying these lessons. Old soldiers never die.