Presidential couple celebrate Team Korea's 32-medal performance with special event

Team Korea's standout performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was celebrated at an event hosted by the presidential couple Thursday evening.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, second from right, and first lady Kim Keon Hee, right, hold an event hosting Team Korea and others who supported Korean athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics at a hotel in Seoul on Thursday. Participants included Olympic medalists, Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, third from right, and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon, fifth from right. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Team Korea's standout performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics was celebrated at an event hosted by the presidential couple Thursday evening.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee held the event in Seoul to honor the athletes, including Olympic medalists. It also featured performances by musicians, a magician and K-pop acts, including girl group NewJeans.

Yoon highlighted Team Korea's spectacular achievements at the Summer Olympics, earning 32 medals and 8th place in the overall ranking, noting many records were set by South Korean athletes, the presidential office said.

This includes the 10th consecutive gold medal in women's team archery at the Olympics.

Despite sending the fewest number of athletes to the Summer Games since the 1984 Olympics, Team Korea exceeded expectations. Team Korea, comprised of 144 athletes, earned 13 gold, nine silver, and 10 bronze medals at the Paris Olympics.

"I believe that there is nothing more important than sports in the educational process that helps people grow," Yoon said at the gathering at a hotel in Seoul. "Sports remind us of peace, unity and what society is all about."

Members of girl group NewJeans speak at an event celebrating Team Korea’s performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics at a hotel in Seoul on Thursday. They performed their hit songs including “Hype Boy” and “ETA” for the participants. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

The theme of Thursday's event was, "You who represented South Korea are all our heroes."

The event included a range of people who participated in all aspects of the Olympics, including athletes' families and coaches, sports organization officials, staffers of the Jincheon National Training Center, chefs who made Korean lunch boxes for the athletes in Paris and researchers from the Korea Institute of Sports Science and police officers who patrolled with international forces in France. Other attendees included Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon.

It marked a rare public appearance by badminton player An Se-young, who won a gold medal at the Paris Olympics, since her return from France after the Games. An made headlines after she alleged on Aug. 5, after earning her gold medal, that her coaching staff did not properly care for an injury she sustained previously. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Badminton Korea Association (BKA) opened investigations into the allegations.

Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran, center, chats with badminton player and Olympic medalist An Se-young, right, at an event celebrating athletes who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics in Seoul Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

During the event, Yoon highlighted that some athletes didn't win medals but still inspired people greatly, his office added.

Yoon emphasized that he would "create a free and fair environment by boldly innovating old practices so that young athletes can train to their heart's content and develop their skills in better conditions."

An award ceremony was also held to present medals of appreciation to recognize the feats of all 144 athletes and 90 coaches of Team Korea.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]