About Wang Ki-chun
Born 1988. Wang Ki-chun is a South Korean judoka.
Wang Ki-Chun (, ; born 13 September 1988 in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province) is a former judoka from South Korea.
He became known for beating the 2004 Olympic champion Lee Won-Hee in the qualification matches for the 2007 World Championships and the 2008 Olympic Games.
Wang won the world title at the age of 19 at the 2007 World Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
He was the favorite for winning the gold medal in the 2008 Olympic Games, however, Wang suffered ribcage fracture when Brazil's Leandro Guilheiro hit him with an elbow in the quarterfinal. Despite fighting through injury, Wang was beaten in the final by Elnur Mammadli from Azerbaijan and had to settle for silver medal. He made up for it in the 2009 World Judo Championships by winning the 73 kg final against North Korean Kim Chol-Su.
After winning the 2010 Paris Grand Slam he did not compete until the 2010 World Championships Tokyo and lost to Hiroyuki Akimoto in the semi-finals and had to settle with the bronze.
He did not medal at the 2011 World Championships in Paris, crashing out early to Ugo Legrand of France. He faced him again in the 2012 Summer Olympics in the fight for bronze, losing again.
In his prime, Wang was known for his physical fighting style, and his deadly tai otoshi and seoi nage.
Disciplinary issues In 2009, Wang assaulted a female club patron, slapping her face after an altercation. No charges were pressed after he reached a settlement with the victim.
Wang was in controversy again in 2014, when he was detained for eight days by the Republic of Korea Army's military police for using his mobile phone while serving his national service. He was caught using his phone again a week later, and was sent to the military correctional facility.
On May 2, 2020, Wang was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor. The Daegu District Court sentenced him to 6 years in prison. The Korea Judo Association subsequently banned Wang for life from judo following the charges for greatly damaging the integrity and social standing of judo.
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Important facts
People in Wang Ki-chun's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Wang Ki-chun's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Wang Ki-chun?
South Korean judoka and convicted sex criminal
When was Wang Ki-chun born?
Wang Ki-chun was born on 13 September 1988 in Jeongeup.
What is Wang Ki-chun's occupation?
Wang Ki-chun is a judoka.
What nationality is Wang Ki-chun?
Wang Ki-chun is South Korean.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Wang Ki-chun. https://biography.guide/wang-ki-chun/
MLA: "Wang Ki-chun." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/wang-ki-chun/.
Chicago: "Wang Ki-chun." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/wang-ki-chun/.
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