Annapurna IV | 1978 NW Ridge

A S Korea expedition to Annapurna IV in 1978 via NW Ridge, led by Chun Byung-Koo. Summit reached on 23rd April 1978. 9 members recorded.

Expedition Details

Field	Value
ID	33
Imported	2026-03-06 18:04:49.359634
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
Host Country	1
Route 1	NW Ridge
Route 2	-
Route 3	-
Route 4	-
Nationality	S Korea
Leaders	Chun Byung-Koo
Sponsor	Korean Alpine Club
Success 1	True
Success 2	False
Success 3	False
Success 4	False
Ascent 1	11th
Ascent 2	-
Ascent 3	-
Ascent 4	-
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Countries	-
Approach	Marshyangdi->Hongde->Sabje Khola (BC)
Basecamp Date	1978-04-07
Summit Date	1978-04-23
Summit Time	1550
Summit Days	16
Total Days	21
Termination Date	1978-04-28
Termination Reason	1
Termination Notes	-
High Point (m)	7525
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Camps	4
Fixed Rope (m)	0
Total Members	7
Summit Members	1
Member Deaths	0
Total Hired	5
Summit Hired	2
Hired Deaths	0
No Hired	False
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Taken	False
O2 Unknown	False
Other Summits	-
Campsites	BC(07/04,4000m),C1(09/04,5000m),C2(14/04,5640m),C3(17/04,6200m),C4(20/04,6600m),Biv(22/04,6900m),Smt(23/04)
Route Notes	Summited during storm, bivouacked two nights. Yoo Dong-Ok, Shanta Bhavan Hospital - 6 May 78 Left C4 6600m 22 April to biv site 6900m and next morning 23 April to summit with 2 Sherpas. 23rd morning weather good but afternoon very bad: strong wind, snow and very cold. 23rd left biv 6 am and reached top 4 pm in very bad weather after 2 pm; returned to biv site 11 pm: couldn't see site 11 pm: couldn't see site at first in storm and made temperature biv in crevasse that night very cold and strong wind. Toes and foot frostbitten on 23rd and night 23/24. Sherpas not frostbitten. Reached BC 27 April because very bad weather with heavy snowfall; could leave C4 only on 26th; 26th night C1, 1st summit assault team was Ok and Sherpas; then with frostbite, bad weather with avalanche danger (Ok and Sherpas hit by avalanche near C3 on 26 April) Leader called halt to climbing; had plans for 2 more summit attacks. Many crevasses on route and deep snow - NE Ridge. All members came to KTM 7 or 8 May and all return to Korea 14-15 May. SR Sharma, Tourism - 27 April 78 Annapurna IV conquered by Yoo Dang-Ok, 32 Sirdar Passang Norbu Sherpa, 25 Sherpa Pemba Lama, 30 10 Baisak = 23 April, afternoon without oxygen. When climbing to summit there was storm and heavy rain. Byun You-Keun - 16 March 78 Same NW Ridge route as 1955 and 1974 Germans, Yugoslavia and Japan. To Sisuwa by bus 20 March and then to BC 10 days - via Pisang. BC 4000m; 4 camps above BC and biv site at 7000m; C4, last fixed camp at 6450m. 1 sirdar and 4 Sherpas above BC, up to Advance BC (C3) at 5900m as well all members No oxygen for climbing or sleeping. 25-28 April summit, 28th April big Korean national day. 6 Koreans on expeditions (probably no doctor).
Accidents	Summiters fell 500 feet on descent
Achievement	-
Agency	-
Commercial Route	-
Standard Route	-
Primary Route	False
Primary Member	False
Primary Reference	-
Primary ID	-
Checksum	2448660
Year	1978
Summit Success	True
O2 Summary	None
Route (lowercase)	nw ridge

Members

Field	Value
ID	2666
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	01
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Byung-Koo
Last Name	Chun (Jun)
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1944
Calculated Age	34
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Leader
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Owns business: electric engineer
Leader	True
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	0
Summit Term	0
HCN	0
Checksum	2429045
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	byung-koo chun (jun)
Year of Birth	1944
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	34
Role	Leader

Field	Value
ID	2667
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	02
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Tak-Young
Last Name	Hahm
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1938
Calculated Age	40
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Deputy Leader
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Govt office granting permission for telex & wireless installation
Leader	False
Deputy	True
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	0
Summit Term	0
HCN	0
Checksum	2426847
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	tak-young hahm
Year of Birth	1938
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	40
Role	Deputy

Field	Value
ID	2668
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	07
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Dong-Ok
Last Name	Yoo
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1947
Calculated Age	30
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Climber
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Department store sports goods salesman
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	7525
Summit Date 1	1978-04-23
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	1550
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	11
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	True
Injury Date	1978-04-23
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	3
Injury Height (m)	7500
Death Notes	Fell 150m in descent; severe frostbite, lost five right toes
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	2430263
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	dong-ok yoo
Year of Birth	1947
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	31
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	2669
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	03
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Myu-Keun
Last Name	Byun
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1949
Calculated Age	28
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Climber
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Exports industrial electrical fixtures
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	0
Summit Term	0
HCN	0
Checksum	2431007
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	myu-keun byun
Year of Birth	1949
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	29
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	2670
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	06
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Myung-Ho
Last Name	Lee
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1949
Calculated Age	28
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Climber
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Driver of construction equipment (cranes, fork lifts)
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	0
Summit Term	0
HCN	0
Checksum	2431128
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	myung-ho lee
Year of Birth	1949
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	29
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	2671
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	04
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Doo-Sung
Last Name	Chun
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1953
Calculated Age	24
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Climber
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Student in Kwang Woon College (Electric College)
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	0
Summit Term	0
HCN	0
Checksum	2432534
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	doo-sung chun
Year of Birth	1953
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	25
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	2672
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	05
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Ki-Joo
Last Name	Rhee
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1938
Calculated Age	39
Citizenship	S Korea
Status	Exp Doctor
Residence	Seoul, S Korea
Occupation	Physician (surgeon)
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	False
Sherpa	False
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	False
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	False
Personal High Point (m)	0
Summit Date 1	-
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	-
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	0
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	0
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	aka Ki-Joo Lee?
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	0
Summit Term	0
HCN	0
Checksum	2427046
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	ki-joo rhee
Year of Birth	1938
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	40
Role	Member

Field	Value
ID	2673
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	08
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Pasang Norbu/Nurbu
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	1954
Calculated Age	23
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	Sirdar
Residence	Namche Bazar, Khumbu
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	True
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	7525
Summit Date 1	1978-04-23
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	1550
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	11
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	(1954-2002) Died 24 Dec 2002 in Khumbu from touching live wire
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	-2116
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	pasang norbu/nurbu sherpa
Year of Birth	1954
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	24
Role	Hired

Field	Value
ID	2674
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:05.675609
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Member ID	09
Peak ID	ANN4
Year	1978
Season	1
First Name	Pemba Lama
Last Name	Sherpa
Sex	M
Age	0
Birth Date	-
Year of Birth	-
Calculated Age	30
Citizenship	Nepal
Status	H-A Worker
Residence	-
Occupation	-
Leader	False
Deputy	False
Basecamp Only	False
Not to BC	False
Support	False
Disabled	False
Hired	True
Sherpa	True
Tibetan	False
Summit Success	True
Claimed	False
Disputed	False
Solo	False
Traverse	False
Ski	False
Paraglide	False
Speed	-
High Point (m)	True
Personal High Point (m)	7525
Summit Date 1	1978-04-23
Summit Date 2	-
Summit Date 3	-
Summit Time 1	1550
Summit Time 2	-
Summit Time 3	-
Route 1	1
Route 2	0
Route 3	0
Ascent 1	11
Ascent 2	0
Ascent 3	0
O2 Used	False
O2 None	True
O2 Climb	False
O2 Descent	False
O2 Sleep	False
O2 Medical	False
O2 Notes	-
Death	False
Death Date	-
Death Time	-
Death Type	0
Death Height (m)	0
Death Class	0
AMS	False
Weather	False
Injury	False
Injury Date	-
Injury Time	-
Injury Type	0
Injury Height (m)	0
Death Notes	-
Member Notes	-
Necrology	-
Summit Bid	5
Summit Term	1
HCN	0
Checksum	-162
Summit Note 1	-
Summit Note 2	-
Summit Note 3	-
Death Route	-
Name (lowercase)	pemba lama sherpa
Year of Birth	-
Year	1978
Age at Expedition	-
Role	Hired

9 recorded members.

Name	Sex	Year of Birth	Citizenship	Status	Residence	Occupation
Byung-Koo Chun (Jun)	M	1944	S Korea	Leader	Seoul, S Korea	Owns business: electric engineer	Details Other expeditions
Tak-Young Hahm	M	1938	S Korea	Deputy Leader	Seoul, S Korea	Govt office granting permission for telex & wireless installation	Details Other expeditions
Dong-Ok Yoo	M	1947	S Korea	Climber	Seoul, S Korea	Department store sports goods salesman	Details Other expeditions
Myu-Keun Byun	M	1949	S Korea	Climber	Seoul, S Korea	Exports industrial electrical fixtures	Details Other expeditions
Myung-Ho Lee	M	1949	S Korea	Climber	Seoul, S Korea	Driver of construction equipment (cranes, fork lifts)	Details Other expeditions
Doo-Sung Chun	M	1953	S Korea	Climber	Seoul, S Korea	Student in Kwang Woon College (Electric College)	Details Other expeditions
Ki-Joo Rhee	M	1938	S Korea	Exp Doctor	Seoul, S Korea	Physician (surgeon)	Details Other expeditions
Pasang Norbu/Nurbu Sherpa	M	1954	Nepal	Sirdar	Namche Bazar, Khumbu	-	Details Other expeditions
Pemba Lama Sherpa	M	-	Nepal	H-A Worker	-	-	Details Other expeditions

References

Field	Value
ID	1476
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Reference ID	01
Year	1978
Type	2
Journal	AAJ
Author	Cheney, Michael J.
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1979
Language	-
Citation	53:274 (1979)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	1519
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Reference ID	02
Year	1978
Type	2
Journal	AAJ
Author	Hahm Tak-Young
Title	-
Publisher	-
Publication Date	1980
Language	-
Citation	53:623-624 (1980)
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	12958
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Reference ID	03
Year	1978
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198062302/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-IV-Northwest-Route-1975
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

Field	Value
ID	13014
Imported	2026-03-06 18:06:36.307770
Expedition ID	ANN478101
Reference ID	04
Year	1978
Type	5
Journal	-
Author	-
Title	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12197927404/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-IV
Publisher	-
Publication Date	-
Language	-
Citation	-
Yak 94	-
Notes	-

4 recorded references.

Expedition ID	Journal	Author	Title	Publisher	Citation	Yak 94
ANN478101	AAJ	Cheney, Michael J.	-	-	53:274 (1979)	-
ANN478101	AAJ	Hahm Tak-Young	-	-	53:623-624 (1980)	-
ANN478101	-	-	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12198062302/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-IV-Northwest-Route-1975	-	-	-
ANN478101	-	-	http://publications.americanalpineclub.org/articles/12197927404/Asia-Nepal-Annapurna-IV	-	-	-