Key facts
- South Korea won 39 gold medals at the Asian Games, its lowest total since 1982.
- The country failed to meet its target of 40-45 gold medals.
- Fencing star Oh Sang-uk was named MVP of the South Korean delegation.
- South Korea finished third in the medal standings behind China and Japan.
- The gap between South Korea and Japan in gold medals widened compared to the previous Asian Games.
South Korea concluded the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 39 gold medals, falling short of its target and seeing the gap with host nation Japan widen. The country's performance marked its lowest gold medal haul since 1982, placing it third in the overall standings behind China and Japan.
Fencing star Oh Sang-uk, who secured two gold medals, was named the Most Valuable Player for the South Korean delegation. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) announced Oh as MVP on Sunday, an award that comes with 30 million won (US$22,240).
The KSOC had aimed to win between 40 and 45 gold medals and reduce the deficit with Japan, which had a significant lead in the previous Asian Games. However, South Korea underperformed in several key sports, including swimming, archery, shooting, and taekwondo, contributing to the wider gap with Japan.
Despite the overall shortfall, South Korea achieved success in some team sports, including men's and women's basketball, baseball, men's football, and women's handball. The fencing team also had a solid campaign with four gold medals. Ryu Seung-min, president of the KSOC, acknowledged the need for detailed analysis of the results to improve training systems and sports science ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.