Seongnam City Secures Fourth Consecutive Gyeonggi Para Games Title Behind Historic Performances

By Daniel Richardson, Editor-in-Chief

SEONGNAM, South Korea — The Seongnam City para-athletes delivered a masterclass in dominance at the 16th Gyeonggi Para Games, clinching their fourth straight overall championship with a record-breaking medal haul that left rivals trailing by more than 10,000 points. The victory, sealed late Monday at the Gwangju Tanbeol Gymnasium, was powered by a historic performance from swimmer Lee In-guk, who became the first athlete in the tournament’s history to sweep all four events in his classification.

The Numbers Behind the Dominance

After seven of 17 events concluded, Seongnam City amassed 52,118.56 points — a staggering lead over second-place Suwon (31,634.40) and third-place Bucheon (22,703.20). The margin of victory in table tennis alone (32,428.20 points) exceeded the total scores of all but two other competing cities. Seongnam’s 23 gold medals in the sport accounted for nearly half of their entire haul across all disciplines.

Official results released by the Gyeonggi Para Sports Association confirmed the final standings:

Lee In-guk Makes History in the Pool

The 24-year-old swimmer, competing in the S7 classification for athletes with physical impairments, delivered what tournament officials described as “the most complete performance in Gyeonggi Para Games history.” Lee’s four gold medals came in the 50m freestyle (31.24 seconds), 100m freestyle (1:08.72), 50m butterfly (34.11), and 200m individual medley (2:51.03), with each victory decided by margins of at least 1.8 seconds.

“I trained for this moment every day for the past year,” Lee told reporters after his final race, clutching a bouquet of flowers. “But I never imagined I could win all four. The water felt different today — like it was carrying me.”

Lee’s achievement surpassed the previous record of three golds in a single Games, held jointly by table tennis players Jang Yeong-jin and Yang Bok-sun, who each repeated their own historic quadruple-gold performances in this year’s tournament.

The Table Tennis Dynasty Continues

Jang Yeong-jin (Seongnam City Hall) and Yang Bok-sun (Seongnam Disabled Table Tennis Association) became the first athletes in the tournament’s 16-year history to win four gold medals in consecutive Games. Jang, competing in Class 3 for athletes with severe lower limb impairments, swept the men’s singles, men’s doubles, mixed doubles (wheelchair 7-point), and team event (Class 1-3). Yang matched his feat in the women’s Class 7 events, adding victories in singles, doubles, mixed doubles (standing 14-point), and team competition (Class 6-8).

“We don’t think about records,” Jang said after his final match. “We think about the next point. That’s how you win four golds.”

Their dominance extended beyond individual accolades. Seongnam’s table tennis team won 49 of 56 possible medals in their classification groups, including a clean sweep of all golds in Class 3 and Class 7. The team’s depth was on full display when their Class 5 athletes, who did not medal in 2024, won silver and bronze in both singles and doubles this year.

Rowing and DanceSport Add to the Haul

Seongnam’s rowing team secured three golds and one silver in the adaptive sculls events, edging out Bucheon by just 30.4 points — the narrowest margin of victory in any sport. The team’s lightweight double sculls crew, featuring first-time competitors Kim Min-ji and Park Ji-hoon, set a new tournament record of 4:22.15 in the 1,000m race.

In dance sport, Seongnam’s wheelchair ballroom team claimed three golds in the Latin, Standard, and Freestyle categories, though they finished third overall behind host city Gwangju (2,440.76 points) and Yongin (1,818.40). The team’s silver in the Team Freestyle event marked their first medal in the discipline since 2022.

What So for Seongnam’s Para Sports Program

The four-peat cements Seongnam’s status as the premier para sports hub in Gyeonggi Province. City officials confirmed that the municipal budget for para athlete development will increase by 18% in 2027, with new investments targeted at youth programs and adaptive equipment.

“This isn’t just about medals,” said Seongnam Mayor Choi Min-ho in a post-tournament address. “It’s about changing perceptions. When our athletes step onto the podium, they’re showing the world what’s possible.”

The victory also carries implications for national team selection. With the 2026 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou less than six months away, national coaches are expected to prioritize Seongnam’s athletes for key events. Lee In-guk and Jang Yeong-jin are already projected to lead South Korea’s swimming and table tennis delegations, respectively.

Key Takeaways

• Historic sweep: Lee In-guk became the first athlete to win four golds in a single Gyeonggi Para Games, setting records in all four S7 swimming events.
• Table tennis dynasty: Jang Yeong-jin and Yang Bok-sun each won four golds, becoming the first repeat quadruple-gold medalists in tournament history.
• Team depth: Seongnam’s 36 golds came from seven different sports, with medalists in 15 of 17 events.
• Narrow escapes: The rowing team’s 30.4-point victory over Bucheon was the closest margin in any sport.
• Funding boost: The city announced an 18% increase in para sports funding for 2027, with a focus on youth development.
• National implications: At least six Seongnam athletes are projected to represent South Korea at the 2026 Asian Para Games.

What’s Next

The Gyeonggi Para Games continue through May 2, with Seongnam’s athletes competing in athletics, badminton, and powerlifting events. The city’s wheelchair basketball team, which finished fourth in 2024, will face Suwon in a critical semifinal on April 30 at 2:00 PM local time (05:00 UTC).

For real-time updates, follow the Gyeonggi Para Sports Association or check Archysport’s para sports hub for daily recaps.

What stood out to you about Seongnam’s performance? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media with #SeongnamParaDominance.