Paragliding Legend Jin-seok Song's Inspiring Journey from Tragedy to Triumph

Broadcaster Jang-hoon Seo is amazed by the incredible story of Jin-seok Song, a paragliding legend who overcame a shocking crash to create the world's top paragliding wings.

On April 1st at 9:55 PM, EBS's 'Jang-hoon Seo's Neighboring Millionaire' will feature Jin-seok Song, a living legend in the paragliding industry, who will reveal the secrets behind his globally dominating 'wings.' Pilots from around the world flock to learn from him, and even Jang-hoon Seo is astonished to learn that a single paragliding wing made by Song costs a staggering 10 million won. Song confidently remarks, "That's why I'm a 'wing millionaire,'" capturing the audience with his relaxed smile.

However, behind his dazzling success lies a past marked by life-threatening challenges. Song began hang gliding in college at a friend's suggestion, but in the 1970s, South Korea was virtually a 'barren land for aviation.' His reckless attempts to build and fly his own gliders in such harsh conditions led to a horrific accident. Shortly after takeoff, his glider crashed into a rocky field, leaving him with severe injuries, including a shattered right side of his face and multiple fractures.

Song recalls the incident with a touch of humor, saying, "I used to be quite good-looking," but adds, "It happened so quickly that I didn't even have time to feel scared." When he regained consciousness, he was already on the operating table, facing the grim reality of having his face stitched without anesthesia. In that dizzying moment, his father's shocking remark left an indelible mark. The full story of the crash and his father's comment, "He came back with ○○ on his face," will be revealed on the show.

Meanwhile, the secrets to Song's success as a top paragliding wing manufacturer are unveiled. A chance encounter with paragliding in Germany ignited the engineering student's passion for innovation. "I thought, 'Is this the best they can do? I wanted to improve it as an engineer,'" he recalls.

Upon returning to Korea, his relentless research and innovation led to the creation of wings with overwhelming performance, chosen by 8 out of 10 pilots worldwide. His products swept international competitions and shook the European market, prompting reactions like, "How can an Asian beat Europeans? Who made this?" In this process, Jang-hoon Seo's remark, "The CEO is crazy," stirred the scene.

Catch the full story on April 1st, Wednesday at 9:55 PM on EBS's 'Jang-hoon Seo's Neighboring Millionaire.'

Reporter Kim Se-ah, Ten Asia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr