South Korea's veteran mountaineer Um Hong-gil has succeeded in climbing the fifth highest peak in the world, becoming the first alpinist in the world to climb 15 Himalayan peaks higher than 8,000 meters.

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the sponsor of Um's trek, said that Um and his mountaineering team successfully climbed the 8505-meter-high Mount Yalung Kang on Wednesday, Korean time.

Um is also aiming to climb the 8,400-meter Lhotse Shar, the seventh highest peak in the world within the year to take on the challenge of climbing for the first time all 16 of the peaks higher than 8,000 meters in the world.

In July 2000, Um became the first South Korean and the seventh climber in the world to hold the distinction of having won the Himalayan Crown for scaling all 14 Himalayan peaks that are more than 8,000 meters in height.