At the age of 47, he entered Daegu University as a late bloomer and overcame countless hardships by eating and studying using the toes of his only remaining limb — his left foot. After 11 years of perseverance, he earned a Ph.D. in vocational rehabilitation, earning him the nickname “Left-Foot Doctor.”
GYEONGJU, South Korea, July 28 (Korea Bizwire) — With only his left foot, 61-year-old Lee Beom-sik completed a 400-kilometer trek across South Korea on Sunday, a remarkable journey of resilience and determination undertaken to rally national unity ahead of the 2025 APEC Summit.
Known as the “Left-Foot Doctor,” Lee set off from Gwangju’s Mudeungsan Mountain on July 7 and arrived at the Gyeongju HICO Convention Center on July 28, after walking for 21 days through blistering heat, torrential rains, and mountainous terrain.
Along the way, he passed through ten cities and counties across both the Honam and Yeongnam regions, including Sunchang, Namwon, Hapcheon, Daegu, and Yeongcheon.
Lee Beom-sik, known as the “Left-Foot Doctor,” arrives at the HICO Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province — the venue for the upcoming APEC Summit — on July 28, after completing a 400-kilometer, 22-day journey to promote the summit and call for greater unity between Korea’s eastern and western regions.
Despite the punishing physical toll — including skin abrasions, muscle pain, and prosthetic malfunctions — Lee persevered. “Even the briefest shade felt like hope,” he said, recalling the hardest days of the journey. “It was the encouragement of strangers and the unwavering support of my wife that carried me through.”
Lee lost both arms and his right leg in an industrial electrocution accident in 1985 while working as an electrician. He later pursued education as a means of rebuilding his life, eventually earning a Ph.D. from Daegu University. His achievements with a single foot earned him the nickname “Left-Foot Doctor.”
Lee Beom-sik, known as the “Left-Foot Doctor,” who walked 400 kilometers over 22 days to promote the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit and symbolize East-West unity, leaves a barefoot footprint at the APEC summit venue, the HICO Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, on July 28.
His journey was intended as a symbolic gesture of solidarity and resilience in the lead-up to the APEC summit, which South Korea will host in 2025. “I wanted to help bring people together ahead of a major national event,” Lee said. “I’ll continue to share hope in my own way.”
Gyeongju city hosted a welcoming ceremony at HICO Plaza, featuring a traditional marching band and a symbolic “foot printing” to commemorate Lee’s extraordinary feat. The event concluded with a performance dedicated to the successful hosting of APEC 2025.
Lee Beom-sik, known as the “Left-Foot Doctor,” performs a symbolic act upon arriving at the HICO Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province — the venue for the upcoming APEC Summit — on July 28, after walking 400 kilometers over 22 days to promote the summit and advocate for unity between Korea’s eastern and western regions.
“After the scorching sun, there’s always another patch of shade,” Lee said. “That’s how I kept walking — with hope for the next cool moment.”
Image credit: Yonhap, City of Gyeongju / photonews@koreabizwire.com
