Gold medalist marathoner Sohn Kee-chung's name and photo are displayed at the Japan Olympic Museum near the National Stadium in Tokyo with no mention that he was Korean. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Eun-young and Yoon Hee Young

The Son Kee Chung Memorial Foundation has sent an official statement urging a correction to the Japan Olympic Museum's listing of marathoner Sohn Kee-chung (1912-2002); the foundation spells his name "Son." 

Sohn won the gold medal at the Berlin Summer Olympics in 1936 as part of the Japanese national team.

The foundation on July 2 said the English-language statement on June 25 was sent to the Japanese Olympic Committee requesting that Sohn's name in Korean be placed next to his name in Chinese script and to clarify his nationality as Korean.

The statement said a permanent reminder of the athlete's painful history damages the Olympic spirit of completing humanity and promoting global peace through sports.

It urged the removal of his picture from the display if the museum rejects the request.

Sohn's name and picture are displayed on the uppermost shelf of the "Japanese Gold Medalist" corner of the museum near the National Stadium in Tokyo. The photo of him wearing a laurel wreath and standing on the podium has a caption in Chinese script and Japanese only, saying, "Sohn Kee-chung, men's marathon at 1936 Berlin athletic championships."

The exhibition is feared to mislead those with little knowledge of the runner's background into thinking that he was Japanese.

The International Olympic Committee's official website, however, says "Sohn Kee-chung of Korea (South Korea)," along with the explanation that "Korea was, at the time, occupied by Japanese forces."

Foundation secretary-general Lee Jun-soung, the athlete's grandson, said, "Trying to remember Son Kee Chung as a Japanese marathon champion is a clear distortion of history."

"This act makes him a sad champion forever," Lee added. "This must absolutely be corrected."

eykim86@korea.kr