An Kum Ae and Om Yun Chol won gold medals in women's judo and men's weightlifting events. Following them, Kim Un Guk, too, bagged a gold medal in men's weightlifting 62kg category.

Kim lifted 153kg in snatch to set a new Olympic record and 174kg in jerk, thus establishing a new world record with a total of 327kg.

At that time, media of different countries widely reported about his victory, saying that the DPRK team had won a sweeping victory.

He captured the world championship in 2010 and 2014 and the Asian championship in 2013, while bagging gold medals in 62kg category snatch of the World Weightlifting Championships held in 2011 and 2013.

He renewed the world records in the men's 62kg category jerk and total at the 17th Asian Games.

He was awarded the title of People's Athlete in 2011, the title of DPRK Labor Hero in 2012 and Kim Jong Il Prize in 2014.