With only 25 days to go until the Incheon Asian Games 2014, President Park Geun-hye visited the Korea National Training Center in Taeneung, Seoul, on August 25 to encourage the Korean national athletes.

President Park received a briefing from Choi Jong-sam, the head of the country's Taeneung Training Center, on the plans of the Korean national athletes who will participate in the upcoming sporting event.


President Park told Choi, “The upcoming games holds meaning as it will be the fourth Asian Games in which all Asian countries will take part. I hope all of you can do your best to achieve your goal and give the people hope.”

She then looked around the gymnasiums of the center to meet athletes competing in taekwondo, fencing, weightlifting and gymnastics. The taekwondo athletes gave her an autographed Taegeukgi, the Korean national flag, as a gift. They told her “We will do our best to meet the status of Korea as the country of origin of taekwondo.”


President Park asked gymnast Yang Hak-seon, gold medalist in the Guangzhou Asian Games 2010 and the London Olympics 2012, about his physical condition, training routine, preparation for the games and new techniques. She highly valued the endeavors of all athletes by saying, “I know you are endowed with talent but you must have made strenuous efforts. I hope you can play well with confidence to impress and delight the people. I am sure your sweat will bring the desired outcome.”



President Park met with fencers Nam Hyun-hee and Shin A-lam at the center. “You are all world-class athletes. I cannot forget the last one second of Shin’s match at the London Olympics. I will root for every one of you.”


President Park headed to the gymnasium where wrestlers train. She met Korean wrestler Lee Yumi and touched the athlete's callused palms. The president said, “I am aware that women’s wrestling has recently become an official Olympic event. Korea has traditionally shown strength in wrestling. I hope you can do your best to achieve a good result.”


By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr