Hong Sung-taek
# Hong Sung-taek

Hong, Sung Taek (Korean: 홍성택; Hanja: 洪成澤; 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 Ramdom 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

* Hong, Sung Taek (2013). 5 Poles. Seoul,Korea: dreamN. ISBN 978-89-88349-41-0.

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

* Hong, Sung Taek (2001). The Effects of Himalayan Altitude Experiences on Body Composition. Seoul,Korea: Korea University.

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

