Hong Sung-taek

Hong, Sung Taek (; born 13 March 1966) is a mountaineer, adventurer, explorer and author from South Korea. He is currently a National Geographic Explorers supported by a National Geographic explorers program and also associated with Defytime and a principal of KSAF Mountaineers Academy. He is renowned for reaching all the Three Poles and crossing the Bering Strait and Greenland for the first time. He summited Everest in 1995, skied to the South Pole in 1994 and walked to the North Pole in 2005. He also crossed Bering Strait by foot in 2012 (official) and crossed Greenland by dog sledding in 2011. He was thus the first in the world to reach all the five poles (Everest, North and South Poles, Bering Straits, Greenland). In 2019, the book "Explorers-amazing tales of the world's greatest adventures" published by UK publisher Penguin Random House DK featured him alongside renowned explorers including Roald Amundsen, Robert Scott, Edmund Hillary etc.

Expeditions

Year Expeditions 2015 attempt, Lhotse, south face (8516 m) 2014 attempt, Lhotse, south face (8516 m) 2013 attempt, Lhotse (8516 m) 2012 crossing, Bering Strait (by foot) (February 23 ~ 29, 2012) 2011 crossing, Greenland (2500 km) (May ~ July 19, 2011) 2008 attempt, Mount Everest SW (8848 m) 2007 attempt, Lhotse, south face (8516 m) Lhotse Shar(8382 m) 2005 arrived, North Pole (N90) (by foot) (April 30, 2005) 2002 attempt, Pumori, east face (7117 m) 1999 attempt, Lhotse, south face (8516 m) 1998 summit, Thapa Peak (6012 m) (April 18, 1998) 1996 attempt, Dhaulagiri (8167 m) Annapurna (8091 m) 1995 summit, Everest (8848 m) (October 14, 1995) 1995 summit, Shishapangma (8046 m) (August, 1995) 1994 arrived, South Pole (S90) (by ski and walk) (January 1, 1994) 1994 attempt, Pumori, NE (7117 m) 1993 attempt, Everest (8848 m) 1992 summit, Khan Tengri (7010 m) (August 5, 1992)

Publications

An essay book telling about the experiences in SP, NP, Everest, Bering and Greenland

A master's thesis, Korea University, 2001

Awards

2019 World Star Awards Sport/Excellence Award

2001 Korea Expedition Awards

1994 Korea National Sport Merit Medal