The South Korean delegation that competed in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Para Games has returned home with a total of 100 medals.

Led by Chef de Mission Park Heung-sik, the South Korean delegation wrapped up their 7-day journey and arrived at Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of October 25.

Jang Min-ho (Anyang City Hall) of the track and field team, who set a world record, entered the arrival hall proudly holding the South Korean flag, walking side by side with "triple table tennis gold medalist" Yoon Ji-yu (Seongnam City Hall). The two athletes previously served as joint flag bearers at the opening ceremony on the 18th.

South Korea finished 5th overall in the medal standings—behind China, Japan, Uzbekistan, and India—by capturing 29 gold, 38 silver, and 33 bronze medals.

This performance surpassed all initial targets of winning 21 or more gold medals and achieving a top-6 overall finish. After passing through the arrival gates, the delegation moved to a welcome ceremony area set up near the arrival hall A at Incheon International Airport Terminal 2.

The welcome ceremony, held at 6 PM, was attended by some 300 people, including Chung Jin-wan, President of the Korea Paralympic Committee (KPC); Chef de Mission Park Heung-sik; Kang Dae-geum, Director General at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; General Manager Jeon Seon-ju; and Support Team Leader Lee Hee-ryong. The event was held in a streamlined format considering the large size of the delegation and airport conditions.

"Today, our athletes have returned proudly with medals pressed against their chests," Chef de Mission Park said. "I am truly proud of our athletes."

"Every athlete did their absolute best until the very end, carrying on a valuable challenge in the name of the Republic of Korea," Park added. "Our athletes will now stride forward toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics."

South Korea dispatched a total delegation of 357 members (214 athletes, 143 officials) across all 18 sports at this tournament.

Table tennis spearheaded the medal hunt, capturing a record-breaking 12 gold medals—the most in Asian Para Games history for South Korea—with Kim Hyun-wook (Gyeonggi-do Para Sports Association) and Yoon Ji-yu both securing three gold medals each.

In track and field, Jang Min-ho won the men's 100m (sport class T13) with an Asian record time of 10.48 seconds, and later broke the world record in the 400m with a time of 46.24 seconds.

South Korea also won its first-ever Asian Para Games gold medals in wheelchair rugby and wheelchair fencing.

"I am proud of every member of the delegation who refused to give up and challenged their own limits amid fierce competition against Asia's top athletes," KPC President Chung said. "I hope you will turn the experiences, confidence, and even the regrets gained from this competition into valuable assets for future challenges."

"The Korea Paralympic Committee will continue to cheer on your new challenges and bright tomorrows," Chung added. "Now, let's prepare for the 2028 LA Paralympics."

The official schedule concluded with Chef de Mission Park returning the delegation flag to KPC President Chung, followed by flower presentations to the medalists and a commemorative photo session.

[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]