Li Chang-su

Li Chang-Su (Korean: 이창수; July 12, 1967 – January 20, 2026) was a North Korean judoka, and defector to South Korea.

Life and career

Li Chang-Su was born in Pyongyang, North Korea on July 12, 1967. He won bronze medals during the 1989 World Judo Championships, and the 1988 Asian Judo Championships.[1] During the 1990 Asian Games, he won the Silver medal despite suffering a rib injury. Due to the loss against a South Korean athlete, Chang-Su reported being forced into hard labor by the North Korean regime.[2]

During an international judo tournament held in Bulgaria, he secretly delivered a note to South Korean athletes expressing his intention to defect from North Korea.[3] While using an international train passing through West Berlin, he escaped, eventually settling in South Korea.[4]

Li died from a heart attack on January 20, 2026, at the age of 58.[5]

Family

In 1992, he married to Chen Ling-chen (陳玲真), a Taiwanese judoka that represent Chinese Taipei, both have three sons.[6] His second son Lee Moon-jin, also as a judoka that represent South Korea.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Su Li CHANG / IJF.org". www.ijf.org. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  2. ^ "Revenge burns for former North Korean judoka".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "JudoInside - Su Li Chang Judoka". www.judoinside.com. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  4. ^ "North Korean Judo Defector Lee Chang-soo Dies". The Chosun Daily. 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-22.
  5. ^ '귀순한 유도 영웅' 이창수 전 유도 대표팀 코치 별세 (in Korean)
  6. ^ "【愛的迫降】北韓柔道選手愛上台灣女將冒死脫北　見面4次決定結婚恩愛28年【有片】". Economic Daily News (經濟日報). 2020-02-25.(in Chinese)
  7. ^ "'귀순한 유도 영웅' 이창수 전 유도 대표팀 코치 별세". 연합뉴스. 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-01-21.(in Korean)

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