Kriti Mehrotra
As a five-part documentary series living up to its title in nearly every way conceivable, Netflix’s ‘Heart of Invictus’ can only be described as equal parts baffling, intriguing, as well as motivating. That’s because it revolves around a handful of international military veterans as they endeavor to participate in the 2022 Invictus Games in the sole hopes of overcoming their blocks/wounds/traumas. Amongst them was actually none other than former South Korean Army official Na Hyeong-Yoon — so if you simply wish to learn more about him and his current standing, here’s what we know.
Who is Na Hyeong-Yoon?
It was reportedly back when Na Hyeong-Yoon was a mere child that he started developing a keen interest in state and national services, just for it to continue expanding as the years passed by. In fact, in his own words, one of his earliest dreams was to become either a policeman or a soldier in order to protect his people and his country in a way that wasn’t mandatorily required of him. He was thus incredibly proud to ultimately enlist in The Republic of Korea Army, unaware it would soon turn his entire world around in a way no one could’ve imagined despite the obvious dangers.
That’s because Na got electrocuted in an incident he doesn’t even clearly remember, rendering him unable to use both his arms before losing them below the elbows; he became a bilateral amputee. The truth is the electric barbed wire boundary of his camp had gone out from around front on a fateful November day, and his job to repair it — a seemingly routine task under most circumstances. However, since it was extremely windy, the official had decided to climb up a telephone pole and make the needed changes up close with his bare hands, only to almost immediately get shocked.
“The doctors said it would be better to amputate my hands. At the time, I wasn’t thinking too clearly,” Na candidly expressed in the original production, making it clear he has some major regrets. Though, what he doesn’t ever lament is subsequently deciding to stick with the woman who showed him unparalleled care as well as compassion at every step of the way, his now wife Park Mi-Soon. “Meeting my wife was the best thing to happen to me,” this father of one — an adorable young daughter by the name of Ha-Narin — then stated. “I think the second thing was starting sports.”
After all, Na had already spent six years working in a billiards room in an attempt to get back up on his feet prior to evolving into a licensed social worker, just to later fall in love with taekwondo. Little did he know this would drive him to explore other areas of fitness too, which is how he ostensibly found road cycling and soon joined the first Korean Team to participate in the Invictus Games. Yet one of this IRB1 class member’s proudest moments arguably has to be the fact he ultimately won gold in the Time Trial category and silver in the Road Race category of this sporting event.
Where is Na Hyeong-Yoon Now?
“When people look at disabled people, they look with sympathy, regret, or sorrow,” Na conceded in the show. “So, I’m participating in these games, and I want everyone to watch us not with pity but to see all the things less-abled bodies can do. I hope that people will give us a fighting spirit!” And honestly, they did. But more importantly, this admittedly once selfish male chose to undergo this endeavor to prove change is possible. “I think I’ve become more optimistic [through sports],” he said. “I’m more positive, and not just mentally. I’m physically healthier. I think sports have had a very good effect.”
Coming to Na’s current standing, from what we can tell, he still resides in Seoul, South Korea, where he continues to serve as a husband, a father, a road cyclist, as well as a licensed social worker. Furthermore, according to his social media presence at the moment, this army veteran is even a part of the Gapyeong-gun Sports Association for the Disabled and the Injury Military Sports Association. Nevertheless, it appears as if his priority these days remains his family, especially as he understands he wouldn’t be in his present position without their support, and he wants his daughter to feel proud.
