President Park Geun-hye visited the Korea National Training Center in Taeneung, Seoul, on January 8, exactly 30 days before the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics begins, meeting and encouraging the national team as it prepares for the upcoming winter games.

At the sports compound, President Park observed the national figure skaters during a training session, including Vancouver gold-medalist Kim Yuna. “Korea’s winter sports have a great future ahead of them thanks to excellent athletes like Kim Yuna. She’s a great motivation for younger athletes,” said President Park. The president of the Korea Skating Union, Kim Jae-youl, who heads up the national team, told President Park that many younger athletes want to become the next Kim Yuna. Minister of Culture, Sports & Tourism Yoo Jinryong praised the players, saying, “Our athletes learn from Kim Yuna and are showing faster growth than other players.”




After meeting with figure skaters and short track athletes, including Shim Suk-hee and Park Seung-hi, President Park looked around the training center’s Wolgyegwan Gym, observing athletes like Vancouver gold-medalist speed skater Lee Sang-hwa. In the guestbook, the president wrote a message of encouragement, saying, “I hope the Korean national athletes will do well at the Sochi Winter Olympics!”





After looking around the center, President Park had lunch with the national team. During the meal, the president noted how she was revisiting the center for the second time, after her previous visit two years ago. “Whenever I come here, I am deeply moved by the passion and dedication of the athletes,” said the president. “I appreciate all the athletes and coaches who bring joy and inspiration to the people and I hope all of you can achieve your goals at the upcoming games,” she added.

The president ended with a quote from “The Analects” (論語) by Confucius: “They who know the truth are not equal to those who love it, and they who love it are not equal to those who delight in it.” (知之者 不如好之者 好之者 不如樂之者.) She told the players to simply enjoy their time in Sochi rather than participate in the games with pride and the burden of being a national athlete representing the nation. “I hope all of you can enjoy the sporting event and just do your best, doing what you love the most,” said the president.



Figure skater Kim Yuna expressed her thanks to the president. “This is the first time for us to meet you in person. Your encouraging words have given us a lot of energy,” said Kim. She went on to say that she has just been going through her usual routine, rather than some extraordinary training regimen, as she prepares for the games, which will be her last before retirement. “The Sochi games will be the final stage of my professional career, so I will empty my mind and simply enjoy the event with no burden,” said the star figure skater.



The Korean national team aims to win more than four gold medals this year and to place in the top ten at the upcoming international winter sporting event. They will hold a launch ceremony on January 23 and leave for Sochi on February 1.


By Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr