The South Korean delegation finished the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with a total of 150 medals, including 39 gold, 43 silver, and 68 bronze, according to the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Fencer Oh Sang-uk received the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award following a vote by the on-site press corps.
Korean Delegation Secures 150 Medals Across Expanded Events
South Korea’s final medal tally of 150 podium finishes came on the closing day of the competition, when leadership held a concluding press conference to detail the team’s performance and outline future objectives. Despite structural adjustments across several sports that tightened qualification and medal opportunities, the delegation expanded its reach into new disciplines while securing additional titles in traditional strongholds.
Team sports proved particularly strong for the delegation. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams claimed gold, alongside tournament titles in baseball, football, and women’s handball. Fencing also maintained its reliable medal output.
New Disciplines Yield Historic Firsts and Repeated Titles
Beyond established events, South Korean competitors broke through in newly integrated sports. A South Korean athlete secured the nation’s first-ever Asian Games gold medal in skateboarding. In teqball, which made its official debut as a medal event, Lee Jun-seok claimed the inaugural championship title.
Meanwhile, established dominant runs continued. The country secured gold medals in League of Legends esports and women’s singles badminton for the second time.
Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Recognizes Standout Contributors
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and supporting organizations recognized standout contributors across multiple categories following the conclusion of the games. Lee Jun-seok earned the Fighting Spirit Award selected by the delegation. The Skill Development Award went to canoeists Cho Kwang-hee and Kim Hyo-bin, while the Leadership Award was given to men’s 3×3 basketball coach Bae Gil-tae.
Special recognition was also awarded to badminton head coach Park Joo-bong, track athlete Park Min-ho, skateboarder Kang Jun, sailor Ha Jee-min, and archer Kim Jong-ho.
Korean Sport Officials Target the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min addressed the delegation’s broader standing at the final press briefing. Yoo stated that the games offered a clear view of South Korean sports’ current international position and the tasks ahead, noting that successful systems will be reinforced while areas requiring improvement will be addressed in coordination with field coaches.
The organization plans to conduct a comprehensive performance review of each sport to shape preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Evaluations will cover athlete recruitment, training programs, and sports science support systems.
Incheon International Airport Welcomes Returning Main Contingent
The main South Korean delegation of 85 people is scheduled to arrive at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on the afternoon of the 5th via Korean Air flight KE742. A public welcome ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4:40 p.m. local time.
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