Brain drain keeps archers on their toes

INCHEON (Yonhap) ― The outflux of archery coaching talent from South Korea, the world’s premier power in the sport, to other Asian countries highlights the problem of job insecurity at home, an issue that could later come back to bite the host country, informed sources said Wednesday.

According to the sources in the local archery scene, at least seven South Koreans are training their home country’s opponents for the upcoming Asiad. Lee Jae-hyung, 51, has been at the helm of Malaysia’s archery team for the past 14 years. The man known as the “godfather of archery” in his adopted home previously had stints in the Philippines and Indonesia since leaving his home country in 1996.

Koo Ja-chung, 47, leads Taiwan. The former gold medalist at the World Archery Championships in 1985 and the Asian Games in 1986 also coached his home country to a gold-studded finish at the 2009 World Championships. Lee Chung-woon and Bae Jae-gyung are leading Nepal and Qatar, while Lim Chae-woong, Mun Baek-woon and Lee Hang-yong are in charge of India, Iran and Vietnam, respectively.