Dr. Park Young-yoon

Q. I came across the news
that you earned your World Pro Card
after competing in the Bikini Division
at the 2022 World Fitness Federation
Asia Pacific Pro / AM Championship.

Congratulations on such
an incredible achievement.

Could you tell us how your journey
as a fitness athlete first began?

Thank you.

Standing on that stage among
so many outstanding athletes and raising
 my Pro Card and trophy in front of
the Korean flag was truly one of the most honorable
and unforgettable moments of my life.

My journey as a fitness athlete
began during medical school.

At the time, my life revolved
almost entirely around studying,
and I started going to the gym simply
to bring some energy and
balance into my daily routine.

As I continued training,
I became increasingly drawn to the sense
of accomplishment that exercise gave me,
as well as the excitement of seeing
my body gradually transform.

That passion eventually led me
to do my first body profile photoshoot.

Through that experience,
I realized I wanted to challenge myself
even further and pursue bigger goals.

That desire for growth and new challenges ultimately
led me into the world of competitive fitness.

Q. What do you consider to be
the most meaningful part of preparing
for a fitness competition?

I believe the most meaningful
part is the journey itself.

The process of building the ideal physique
for a specific category, refining it through posing
and styling, and ultimately stepping
onto the stage feels like a journey
of discovering who I truly am.

It is not only a physical transformation
but also a deeply reflective experience.

In many ways, it becomes a valuable time
for self-awareness and personal growth.

Preparing for a competition also serves
as a powerful motivation to live with discipline,
maintain a healthy lifestyle,
and avoid becoming complacent.

The preparation process is undeniably demanding,
and there are many sacrifices involved.
There are moments of exhaustion, challenges,
and things you must give up along the way.

However, precisely because of those challenges,
I believe the experience carries
even greater value and meaning.

Q. I understand that you’ve also explored
diving as a unique hobby. Could you tell us
what makes diving so appealing to you?

What I love most about diving
is the incredible sense of freedom.

The moment I’m surrounded by the ocean
and feel the buoyancy of the water supporting
my entire body, it feels as though
I’ve escaped gravity and can move completely freely.
That sensation alone is deeply captivating.

Scuba diving feels like traveling through
an entirely different world beneath the surface.
I get to experience the beauty of marine life
and underwater landscapes while sharing
that journey with others, which makes
every dive feel like a special adventure.

Freediving, on the other hand, offers
a very different kind of attraction.

It requires delicate control
over the body and mind, especially
when managing the natural urge to breathe.

There is something incredibly powerful
about calming yourself completely,
focusing in silence,
and descending deeper
into the water with full concentration.

That combination of tranquility, control,
and exhilaration is what makes diving
such a fascinating and rewarding experience for me.

Q. How do you maintain your sense
of identity while balancing two
seemingly different worlds
that of a doctor and a fitness athlete?

At first, it felt like I was constantly switching
between two different versions of myself
almost like turning separate identities on and off.

People around me would even joke,
asking whether I was a doctor who works out
or an athlete who happens to practice medicine.

But over time, I realized these two worlds
were never truly separate.

In the end, I came to see myself simply
as a doctor who embraces fitness.
Rather than dividing my identity into two roles,
I learned to integrate them into one.

Because of that, when I tell my patients,
“Exercise is essential,” those words carry greater
authenticity and conviction. I’m not just giving
advice based on medical knowledge
I’m speaking from personal experience
and from a lifestyle I genuinely live every day.

That perspective has allowed me to stay
grounded and move through both worlds
as one complete version of myself.

Q. If you had to choose
the body profile photo that best represents
who you are, which one would it be and why?

The first photo I would choose
is one taken outdoors during a time
when I felt my body condition
was at its absolute best.

It was a bold shoot,
and I believe it captured my physique exactly
as I wanted it to be recorded. It’s a photo
that I can confidently show to anyone
because it reflects a version of myself
that I worked incredibly hard to achieve.

The second photo is meaningful in a different way.

I love how it captures both softness and freedom,
while also expressing the strength
and resilience within me.
I feel that it represents my personality
and inner self particularly well, which is
why it remains one of my favorite images.

What I’ve come to realize through
body profile shoots is that the experience
isn’t only meaningful when you’re
at your leanest or sharpest physical condition.

Choosing to document yourself
 in different stages and conditions
can be a healthy and empowering process.

 It has taught me to appreciate
and love my body more fully
not just for how it looks at its peak,
but for everything it represents
throughout the journey.

Q. How do you usually
relieve stress in your daily life?

I try to eliminate unnecessary distractions
as much as possible and
make time to fully focus on myself.

One of my favorite ways to relieve stress
is by exercising quietly on my own or creating
the most comfortable environment
at home for quality rest.

I pay close attention to everything
from lighting and sound to temperature
and even the texture of my bedding
to ensure I can fully relax and get restorative sleep.

Another important way I manage stress
is by creating opportunities to experience small
but meaningful achievements.

I set realistic goals that I know I can accomplish,
especially through exercise, and work toward
completing them. Even small successes give me
a sense of accomplishment and help restore my energy.

Most importantly, I make a conscious effort to
acknowledge my progress and genuinely praise myself.
I believe that giving yourself credit, even for small victories,
can be one of the most powerful ways
to recharge and maintain a healthy mindset.

Q. What do you cherish the most?

I think what I cherish the
most is my own “sensitivity.”

In another way, I would describe
it as a positive kind of attentiveness.

It allows me to sense what patients
 are struggling with and understand
 what they truly need from a doctor.

Even the smallest movement
of my hands can have a meaningful
impact on a person’s life,
and I am very aware of that responsibility.

This refined sensitivity enables me to
empathize deeply and connect with people
in a more meaningful way, and I truly value
it as one of my greatest strengths.

It not only supports me in my work as a doctor,
but also helps me fully engage with
and enjoy moments in exercise and in everyday life.