She’s not just a doctor — she’s also a professional boxer and now a world champion: Korea’s Seo Ye-kyeng has finally claimed her first world title on her third attempt.
Seo, who represents Cheonan Beat Son Jung-oh Boxing Gym, knocked out Thailand’s Wisuta Sririttidet in the third round of the Women’s International Boxing Association (WIBA) minimumweight world title bout at the Swiss Grand Hotel Seoul in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, on Saturday.
The victory came in her third attempt at a world title since her first challenge in 2024.
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Seo, a pediatrician at Soon Chun Hyang University Hospital Cheonan, took up boxing in 2018. She had little interest in sports during her school years or while attending medical school, but turned to boxing after becoming a doctor as a way to relieve the stress of work and study.
“I was physically and mentally exhausted from working as a doctor,” Seo said in an interview Monday. “I started boxing as a way to endure the situation and keep going.”
Just a year after taking up the sport, Seo made her professional debut in 2019. She went on to win the Korea Boxing M national light flyweight title and claimed the World Boxing Association (WBA) women’s minimumweight Asian title earlier this year.
Despite balancing her responsibilities caring for patients at the hospital with competing in the ring, Seo has never stopped training.
“To take good care of my patients, I need to be physically and mentally strong myself,” Seo said. “The sweat I shed in the ring also gives me tremendous strength when I meet patients in the examination room.”
Seo also celebrated her victory in an Instagram post Monday.
“It was tough dealing with minor injuries and a long preparation period, but I’m happy to have become a world champion,” she wrote. “I’m truly grateful to all the members of Beat Boxing Gym, my friends and younger acquaintances who traveled such a long way to cheer me on.”
Son Jung-soo, head of Cheonan Beat Son Jung-oh Boxing Gym, also expressed his gratitude on Instagram on Monday.
“I bow my head in thanks to everyone who helped Seo become a world champion,” Son wrote. “We will continue to work hard with humility.”
Seo has no intention of stopping at the WIBA world championship.
She has set her sights on winning titles sanctioned by boxing’s four major governing bodies — the WBA, World Boxing Council, International Boxing Federation and World Boxing Organization.
