UNJournal Kayla Lee | President Lee Jae Myung and First Lady Kim Hye Kyung hosted a luncheon at Cheong Wa Dae on March 20 to welcome and honor the national Paralympic team, whose outstanding performances at the 2026 Milan–Cortina Winter Paralympics brought pride to the Republic of Korea. The luncheon was arranged to recognize the dedication and perseverance of athletes who moved the nation with their indomitable spirit, and was attended by the full roster of competitors who participated in the Games.
Among those present were Kim Yun-ji, who set an all-time record for the most individual medals won by a Korean athlete at a single Olympic or Paralympic Games — Summer or Winter — ; Lee Je-hyeok, who claimed the first-ever medal in Paralympic snowboard for Korea; and wheelchair curlers Baek Hye-jin and Lee Yong-seok, who brought home a curling medal for the first time in 16 years. Also in attendance were Choi Sa-ra, who overcame a knee injury to complete all five of her events, and Park Chae-i, the first Korean woman to compete in the alpine skiing seated category — athletes who exemplified what it means to push beyond one's limits.
On behalf of the Korean people, President Lee extended his profound gratitude to the team for achieving the best results in Korean Winter Paralympic history through relentless, no-regrets competition. He also expressed special appreciation for the coaches, assistant coaches, support staff, and nutrition center personnel who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to enable the athletes to perform at their best.
The athletes in attendance — including nordic skier Kim Yun-ji, wheelchair curling head coach Park Gil-woo, snowboarder Lee Je-hyeok, and alpine skier Choi Sa-ra — responded warmly to the President's encouragement, sharing candid impressions from their Paralympic experience and offering suggestions for improvement in a free-flowing exchange.
When alpine skier Choi Sa-ra recounted how she had overcome a torn anterior cruciate ligament just one month before competition through intensive rehabilitation, several coaches and officials were visibly moved to tears.
Alpine skier Park Chae-i then spoke of the hardships she had faced during her time on the reserve team — including having to commute between training venues due to budget constraints — and expressed her hope for improved conditions and infrastructure to allow athletes with disabilities to train in a stable environment. Kim Dong-hwan, President of the Korea Disabled Ski Association, conveyed a pressing message from the field: that guides for visually impaired athletes, wax technicians, and trainers are in urgent need of better compensation and treatment.
Alpine skier Hwang Min-gyu raised the need for athletes to secure professional stability and focus on training through the formation of company-sponsored club teams, while nordic skiing head coach Son Seong-rak called for a resolution to the issue of athletes losing their basic livelihood support eligibility during overseas training camps, and for smoother access to medical examinations at sports council-affiliated hospitals during high-altitude training.
The luncheon was served as a Western-style multi-course meal. A dessert cake sculpted to evoke the snow-covered Italian landscape and the mountain setting of the host city, Cortina d'Ampezzo, drew admiring glances from all in attendance. Following the meal, wheelchair curling couple Nam Bong-gwang and Baek Hye-jin presented the President and First Lady with commemorative gifts on behalf of the entire team: a team uniform bearing the autographs of all the athletes, and a replica curling stone.
The atmosphere was further elevated by celebratory performances from girl group Oh My Girl and singer Huh Gak. The luncheon concluded with President Lee, First Lady Kim Hye Kyung, and the athletes joining together for a spirited cheer before posing for a commemorative group photograph.
