Kwon Yi-joo /Yonhap

Retired Korean-American businessman Kwon Yi-joo, 65, is in the spotlight after announcing an ambitious plan to run across the U.S. Kwon, who is the president of the Korean Road Runners Club of New York, said in a ceremony in Flushing, New York, on Wednesday that he hopes to complete the 3,500-mile (5,600 km) journey by running 31 miles every day for 110 days.

Fifteen years ago Kwon weighed 84 kg and suffered from advanced diabetes. To overcome the condition he changed his eating habits and began running two hours a day. In the process he became interested in long-distance running, and has run 100 marathons so far since his first in 2000. He has also completed three 100-mile (161 km) ultra-marathons, and last year he ran 150 miles (241 km) from Philadelphia to New York.

However, the cross-country journey will be a completely different challenge from the races he has run so far. "There are deserts and mountains to cross, so I'm sure it will feel like an endless run," Kwon said. "But I'm ready for that and will do my best, keeping my family and fellow Koreans in mind."

Other marathoners plan to join him along the journey, which will be led by a car sporting the Korean flag. Through the trek, Kwon intends to promote awareness of diabetes and of Korea's sovereignty over the Dokdo islets.

Kwon's journey will kick off in Los Angeles on March 23 and finish at the United Nations headquarters in New York on July 9.