Hong Sung-taek


Hong, Sung Taek 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 and crossed Greenland by dog sledding in 2011. He was thus the first in the world to reach all the five poles. 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.
WWW hongs-expedition.com

Expeditions

YearExpeditions
2015attempt, Lhotse, south face
2014attempt, Lhotse, south face
2013attempt, Lhotse
2012crossing, Bering Strait
2011crossing, Greenland
2008attempt, Mount Everest SW
2007attempt, Lhotse, south face Lhotse Shar
2005arrived, North Pole
2002attempt, Pumori, east face
1999attempt, Lhotse, south face
1998summit, Thapa Peak
1996attempt, Dhaulagiri Annapurna
1995summit, Everest
1995summit, Shishapangma
1994arrived, South Pole
1994attempt, Pumori, NE
1993attempt, Everest
1992summit, Khan Tengri

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