Judo athlete Huh Mimi claimed the gold medal in the women’s 57kg division at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, competing in the country where she was born and raised. OSEN reported that the 2002-born fighter, a Zainichi Korean third-generation descendant, secured the victory by defeating Mongolia’s Terbish Ariunzaya in the final on Oct. 1.
Fulfilling a Grandmothers Final Wish
Huh captured the title after renouncing her Japanese citizenship in 2021, acting in accordance with the request of her grandmother. Born to a Korean father and a Japanese mother, Huh speaks Japanese more naturally than Korean, yet she chose to represent South Korea to fulfill that final promise.
Ancestral Ties to Korean Independence History
Following her transition to the South Korean national team, it was revealed that Huh is the fifth-generation descendant of Huh Seok, an independence activist who was imprisoned during the Japanese colonial rule for distributing anti-Japanese tracts, OSEN reported.
Overcoming Injury After Paris Silver
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Huh earned a silver medal but expressed deep regret afterward because she could not sing the South Korean national anthem alongside her late grandmother. Training through a shoulder injury that required surgery created a grueling recovery period that left her questioning her competitive future. OSEN reported that Huh broke down in tears during her post-match broadcast interview, admitting she doubted whether she could return to the top of the podium in major international competition.
Gold Medal Bound for the Gravesite
With her victory over Terbish Ariunzaya secured by an early waza-ari that she defended until the final bell, Huh achieved the goal she set out to accomplish. OSEN reported that the champion intends to take her gold medal directly to her grandmother’s gravesite, keeping the vow she made prior to the tournament.
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