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| Mountaineer Kim Chang-ho |
Mountaineer Kim Chang-ho is the first Korean to summit the Himalaya's 14 peaks without using oxygen tanks. Kim reached the peak of Mt. Everest on Monday.
He also set a world record for completing the climb in the shortest span of time, according to the Korean Alpine Federation (KAF).
Five Koreans previously conquered the 14 peaks of the Himalayas, but with the aid of supplementary oxygen.
Kim is also one of only 14 mountaineers worldwide to have reached all 14 summits without the aid of breathing equipment.
Kim, 44, began his climbing expedition in 2005, when he set out for the peak of Mt. Nanga Parbat in Nepal.
Kim succeeded in scaling all 14 Himalayan peaks in seven years, 10 months and six days. He broke the world record of seven years, 11 months and 14 days _ set by Jerzy Kukuczkaby of Poland, who was the second person to summit the Himalaya's 14 peaks ― by more than a month.
The 14 peaks, which are more than 8,000 meters above sea level are also known as the "eight-thousanders."
What makes Kim's journey remarkable is that it was eco-friendly ― he insisted that he climb the mountains without supplementary help. He named his team "From 0 to 8848," implying that the ascents, from sea level to peaks, would be completed solely by manpower.
The KAF said Kim left his base camp on Friday and reached camp four on Sunday. He left for the peak the same day, reaching the top in a mere 13 hours. The team safely returned to camp four on Monday.
"My mind was set on reaching the peak only by the strength that I possess," Kim said. "That was my first instinct and hope."
In March, he traveled for 60 days by kayak, bicycle and foot from India's Bakkali to the foot of Mt. Everest. This unusual way of approaching the mountain's base camp was significant ― he shunned all traditional and additional assistance.
Usually, mountaineers travel by plane to Lukla, a small town 2,800 meters above sea level, where they begin their ascent.
According to the KAF, Kim is a passionate mountaineer. He spent 1,800 days in the Karakoram and Hindu Kush mountains, setting record after record. He is always looking for new methods that can enable him to climb the peaks of prominent mountains.
