More people enjoying thrills in gravity-defying workouts

More people enjoying thrills in gravity-defying workouts 　　At one popular climbing gym in Seoul, Koh Sang-eun a third year University student, gracefully moves across the wall, as she gingerly reaches from hold to hold.

　Koh is one of a new wave of people rushing over to the climbing walls to perform gravity-defying feats over an assortment of Technicolor holds, all within the safety of the indoors.

　Interview Ko Sang-eun student 　“It’s really fun” 　“When you first start its actually a challenge, but the more and more you do it, the more you want to because its fun.”

　Having taken the mainstream by storm, climbing offers challenging workouts, slim figures and thrills to top it all off.

　Interview Lee Jae-yong Manager, Climbing Planning Team, Goldwin Korea 　“Recently more and more people have started to enjoy sport climbing” 　“Students and women comprised the largest demographic increase.”

　And celebrities are also getting into the mix, which is making inroads into pop culture as evidenced by its recent appearance in the hit TV drama, Secret Garden.

　Companies are also seeking to tap into the younger market, with commercials featuring big name celebrities like Lee Hyo-ri, and Jang Hyuk .

　But for most, climbing is just plain old fun.

　And although climbing’s popularity among the public has just started growing, Korea has already been sending athletes onto the podium. 　Kim Ja-ha and his younger siblings, Ja-bee and Ja-in are a part of only a handful of internationally ranked Korean climbers.

　Interview Kim Ja-ha Professional Climber 　“I would like to see more people informed about how safe the sport is and come out and climb.”

　As Korean athletes take to the podium and the general public’s interests scales to new heights, it won’t be long before the term climbing becomes synonymous with Korea.

　Herald News, 　Robert Lee