South Korea's president hails Asian Games team as Aichi-Nagoya Games close
In short
South Korea finished third at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China and Japan. President Lee Jae-myung marked the closing by posting on X that every athlete who competed to the end is a champion, saying the colour and number of medals cannot fully measure their effort, and promising to support the team at the Asian Para Games opening on Oct 18.
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President Lee Jae-myung said on Oct 4 that every South Korean athlete who competed to the end at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games is a champion, in a message posted on X as the Games closed. “Everyone who challenged to the end is a champion,” the president wrote, according to Maeil Business, SBS News, Dong-A Ilbo and Asia Economy. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
The president said about 800 South Korean athletes competed in 41 sports and that there were both joyful and regrettable moments. “The colour and number of medals alone cannot measure all the sweat and effort,” he said, adding that the athletes who competed fairly and pushed their own limits, and the public who cheered them regardless of victory or defeat, were all protagonists of the Games. He thanked athletes, coaches and those who supported the delegation out of sight, and said he would cheer the team at the Asian Para Games, which open on Oct 18. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
South Korea finished third in the medal table with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China with 169 gold, 89 silver and 83 bronze, and Japan with 83 gold, 95 silver and 91 bronze, according to Maeil Business and SBS News. SBS News reported that it was the first time in 44 years, since the 1982 New Delhi Games, that South Korea's gold tally fell below 40, and that the gap with China and Japan was wide. Maeil Business reported the gold count fell far short of expectations and that South Korea fell further behind host Japan. [ 1 , 2 ]
The Games opened on Sept 19 and closed with a ceremony at the Mizuho Park athletics stadium in Nagoya, SBS News reported. The same outlet said the third-place finish was upheld by the football team's first-ever fourth consecutive title, gold medals for both the men's and women's basketball teams, and wins by badminton player An Se-young and sabre fencer Oh Sang-uk. SBS News also reported that the Games drew criticism over their organisation, including accommodation, transport and competition conditions, and that the next edition will be held in Doha, Qatar, in four years. [ 2 ]
Newsis published a report headlined that the president had encouraged the national team, but the article text available under that headline covered a separate statement by the president about what he described as irresponsible extremism. The documents do not explain the discrepancy. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The medal tally is the reference point for how South Korea's Asian Games campaign will be judged: SBS News reported the gold total fell below 40 for the first time in 44 years and that the gap with China and Japan was wide. The president's message frames the delegation's effort rather than its results, and points attention to the Asian Para Games starting on Oct 18. Questions raised about the Games' organisation are likely to feed into preparations for the next edition in Doha.
Key facts
- President Lee Jae-myung posted a message on X on Oct 4 congratulating South Korean athletes as the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games closed. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The president said about 800 South Korean athletes competed in 41 sports. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- South Korea finished third with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals, behind China and Japan. [ 1 , 2 ]
- SBS News reported South Korea's gold total fell below 40 for the first time since the 1982 New Delhi Games, 44 years ago. [ 2 ]
- The president said he would support the team at the Asian Para Games, which open on Oct 18. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
- SBS News reported the Games drew criticism over accommodation, transport and competition conditions, and that the next edition is in Doha, Qatar, in four years. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- President Lee Jae-myung published a message on X on Oct 4 congratulating the national team as the Asian Games closed. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- South Korea finished third in the medal table with 39 gold, 43 silver and 68 bronze medals. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The president said around 800 South Korean athletes competed across 41 sports. [ 1 , 2 , 4 , 5 ]
- The president said he would cheer the team at the Asian Para Games opening on Oct 18. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- Newsis's article text under a headline about the president's encouragement covers a separate statement about what he called irresponsible extremism. The documents do not explain why the headline and article text differ, so the body of that report cannot be used for this event.
- Criticism of the Games' organisation, including accommodation, transport and competition conditions. This is reported by a single outlet and no details or responses are given.
- Whether South Korea's gold medal total fell short of an official target. Maeil Business reports the gold count fell far short of expectations, but no document states what the target was.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Maeil Business publishes its report on the president's congratulatory message and South Korea's medal tally as the Games close. [ 1 ]
- SBS News reports the closing ceremony at Nagoya's Mizuho Park athletics stadium, the third-place finish and criticism of the Games' organisation. [ 2 ]
- Newsis publishes a report headlined on the president's encouragement to the team; the article text available covers a separate statement. [ 3 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo reports the president's message and the end of the Games. [ 4 ]
- Asia Economy reports the president's message and his support for the team ahead of the Asian Para Games. [ 5 ]