Han Pil-hwa
Han Pil -hwa ( born January 21, 1942 in Chinnamp'o, Heian Nando in Chosen, a former Japanese Empire, present-day North Korea) is a former North Korean speed skater.
Han joined the World Championships 1963 in Karuizawa Japan for the first time internationally in appearance. About 500 m they could occupy the fourth place there, in the overall standings the twelfth. The following year she took part in the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck. In the last couple over 3000 m started, it has surprisingly been able to achieve the lap times of the leaders Lydia Skolikowa. In the second half they fell back a little, but in the end won the silver medal, coinciding with Valentina Stenina. So she was the first North Korean speed skater who won an Olympic medal.
As with many North Korean athletes her international career was marked by many periods of absence. Nevertheless, they could take part in five World Cups, while in 1965 reached fifth place.
After the end of their careers Han worked as a trainer.
In 1998 she was elected to the North Korean Parliament, worked part-time but still for the North Korean Speed Skating Association.