This photo provided by the Gimhae city government shows Em Anatoly (R) and Gimhae Mayor Hong Tae-yong.
GIMHAE, March 8 (Korea Bizwire) — The city of Gimhae in South Gyeongsang Province is considering offering South Korean citizenship to a talented teenage boxer from Ukraine, who came to South Korea after fleeing from the war.
18-year-old Em Anatoly is an up-and-coming Ukrainian boxer who has won many international competitions.
Anatoly came to South Korea in March last year, fleeing from the war in Ukraine to stay with his Korean father and Ukrainian mother.
His parents have been living in Gimhae on work visas since 2021.
Anatoly entered the Gimhae Construction Technical High School. Since June of last year, he has been engaged in joint training with the city’s boxing club with support from the Gimhae City Boxing Association.
Due to his immigration status, Anatoly can’t participate in domestic competitions, nor join a Korean boxing club.
In response, Anatoly’s sponsor organizations will soon ask the government to offer him citizenship based on his excellence in sports.
“I would like to thank everyone for looking after me,” Anatoly said. “I wish I could make my contribution to South Korea through boxing.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
