By Yoo Yeon Gyeong
Photos = Kim Sunjoo
Video = Lee Jun Young

The national team has pledged to do its best at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, at the squad's launching ceremony 11 days before the competition's opening on Sept. 23. 

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Korean Sport and Olympic Committee (KSOC) on Sept. 12 at 3 p.m. held the event at Olympic Hall of Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa-gu District.

About 1,000 people attended including Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon, KSOC President Lee Kee Heung, board members of city and provincial athlete associations, executives of organizations for each sport, leaders and athletes.

"The government is doing its best so that the values of freedom and solidarity are incorporated into overall sports policy," President Yoon Suk Yeol said in a pep talk read by Minister Park. "With the people, we will run with our hearts and root for our players."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Park Bo Gyoon (middle) on Sept. 12 takes a photo with badminton player An Se Young (left), who is also national team captain, and swimmer Kim Woo-min at Olympic Hall of Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa-gu District.

"We prepared for the games with a lot of effort and quiet training," delegation chief Choi Yoon said. "We will do our best to meet the people's wishes by achieving major results in leading events."

Delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the games will run from Sept. 23 through Oct. 8 in six cities of Zhejiang province: Hangzhou, Ningbo, Wenzhou, Huzhou, Shaoxing and Jinhua.

With a combined 1,140 athletes in 39 events, the national team is aiming for third place overall by winning 50 or more gold medals. The delegation will depart for Hangzhou on Sept. 20.  

Choi Yoon, head of the national delegation for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, on Sept. 12 waves the national flag at the launching ceremony for the squad at Olympic Hall of Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa-gu District.