The South Korean delegation secured 150 medals, including 39 gold, at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games, closing out 16 days of competition with a diverse medal haul across traditional powerhouses and newer disciplines, according to a post-event press conference held by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC).
Closing the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games With 150 Medals
At the closing press conference on Dec. 4, KSOC officials detailed a final medal count of 39 gold, 43 silver, and 68 bronze medals. Despite structural changes to the tournament’s event program that presented competitive hurdles, the delegation successfully broadened its medal-producing events. Fencer Oh Sang-uk was selected as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) by a vote of the on-site press corps.
Revival in Team Sports and Breakthroughs in New Disciplines
The 2026 campaign featured a notable resurgence in traditional team sports. Men’s and women’s basketball captured dual gold medals, while baseball, football, and women’s handball delivered strong performances that energized supporters. Traditional gold-mine disciplines like fencing maintained elite global standards to anchor the overall count.
At the same time, emerging disciplines recorded historic milestones. South Korea secured its first-ever Asian Games gold medal in skateboarding, and teqball—making its debut as an official medal event—produced an inaugural champion. Meanwhile, League of Legends (LoL) in esports and women’s singles badminton both successfully defended their titles to claim consecutive gold medals.
KSOC Announces Individual Tournament Honorees
Following the press corps vote naming Oh Sang-uk as tournament MVP, KSOC announced several other individual honoress for grit, athletic development, and leadership:
| Award Category | Recipient | Sport and Role |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player (MVP) | Oh Sang-uk | Fencing National Team |
| Fighting Spirit Award | Lee Jun-seok | Teqball National Team |
| Athletic Development Award | Jo Gwang-hee, Kim Hyo-bin | Canoe National Team |
| Leadership Award | Bae Gil-tae | Men’s 3×3 Basketball Coach |
| Special Award | Park Joo-bong and 4 others | Badminton Head Coach, Park Min-ho (Athletics), Kang Jun-i (Skateboarding), Ha Ji-min (Sailing), Kim Jong-ho (Archery) |
Five special award recipients will receive Ceragem massage chairs (Master V9 2027 and Pause M6 models) as supplementary prizes, according to KSOC announcements.
Transitioning Toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
Delegation leadership indicated immediate plans to shift focus toward preparations for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. KSOC President Yoo Seung-min stated that the organization has identified current competitive standing and necessary developmental tasks, noting that officials will work directly with training sites to address performance gaps and secure optimal competitive environments.
Head of Delegation Lee Sang-hyun credited the collective resolve of athletes, coaches, and support staff for maintaining focus amidst unexpected challenges. The main delegation—consisting of 85 athletes, coaches, and headquarters officials—is scheduled to board Korean Air flight KE742, departing at 1:40 p.m. on Dec. 5. An official welcome ceremony is set for 4:40 p.m. at Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport.
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