Pak Doo-Ik

Who is Pak Doo-Ik?

Pak Doo-Ik is a North Korean former footballer.

Pak Doo-Ik was born at Pyongyang. He represented North Korea at the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England, scoring the winning goal in their 1-0 win over Italy at Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, a game since featured in the film The Game of Their Lives by British filmmaker Daniel Gordon.

After the victory, Pak, who was a corporal in the North Korean army, was promoted sergeant. After the championship, Pak left the military and football, and became a gymnastics instructor. An Italian urban legend that persisted for a long time in the press had it that Pak was a dentist.

During the 2008 Olympic torch relay in Pyongyang, he was the first to carry the Olympic torch through the streets.