President Lee Hosts Luncheon for Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Team: "We Will Do Our Best to Advance Para Sports"

The Financial News reported that on the 20th, President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea invited the 2026 Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games delegation to Cheong Wa Dae for an encouragement luncheon and stated, "The government will do its utmost so that the sweat and passion you have poured in can lead to further development of para sports in the Republic of Korea."
President Lee and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung hosted the luncheon at the State Guest House, inviting members of the Winter Paralympic team, their coaches, and officials from sports organizations. Among the attendees were Nordic skiing athlete Kim Yun-ji, delegation head Yang O-yeol, wheelchair curling athletes Lee Yong-suk and Baek Hye-jin, snowboard athlete Lee Je-hyeok, International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletes' Council member Won Yoo-min, Minister Chae Hwi-young of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), and Korea Paralympic Committee (KPC) President Chung Jin-wan.
In his remarks, President Lee said, "I am truly proud of our national team, who represented the Republic of Korea and moved our people and the world with challenges that pushed beyond all limits," adding, "My sincere thanks go to all the head coaches, coaches, trainers, competition assistants, and catering support center staff who worked so hard to help the athletes perform at their best."
He went on to note, "At this Games, the Republic of Korea achieved its best-ever performance, surpassing the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang." He highlighted Kim Yun-ji's first-ever gold medal for Korea in biathlon and the first gold by a Korean woman in cross-country skiing, Lee Je-hyeok's first Paralympic snowboard medal for Korea, and the wheelchair curling national team's first medal in 16 years.
President Lee pledged, "The government will actively support people with disabilities so that, through sports, they can build confidence and a sense of achievement and lead healthy lives," and added, "Together with our people, we will cheer you on as you take on even greater challenges."
Speaking on behalf of the athletes, Kim Yun-ji said, "It was truly an honor just to be able to compete as a representative of the Republic of Korea," and continued, "If there are people who, after watching us, want to take on para sports, I hope they will not be afraid to try and will discover their own talents."
The toast was proposed by wheelchair curling national team member Lee Yong-suk. He said, "Our delegation wore the Taegeuk emblem over our hearts, became one team, and wrote a new chapter in history," adding, "Both the good moments and the difficult ones led to achievements that we accomplished by coming together as one." He then called out, "Republic of Korea," and the attendees responded with, "Fighting!"
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter