"The sweat you shed at this competition brought great inspiration and joy to all our people. The perseverance and spirit of challenge you showed in every event became the dignity of Korean sports and the pride of the Korean people."
Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Choi Hwi-young made the remarks at a welcome ceremony for the Korean delegation to the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, held at the arrival hall of Incheon International Airport Terminal 2 on Monday.
"Regardless of rankings, the valuable achievements you earned are already the pride of us all and the future of Korean sports," Choi said. "Every intense moment has given future young athletes new possibilities and courage."
The main contingent of the Korean delegation—including Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min, Chef de Mission Lee Soo-kyung (President of the Korea Skating Union), and athletes from short track, speed skating, figure skating, bobsled, and curling—returned home through Incheon Airport on Monday evening.
Korea won three gold, four silver, and three bronze medals at the 25th Winter Olympics, which was held across four clusters including Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from Feb. 6 to 22. The country ranked 13th in the overall medal standings.
Although Korea fell short of its pre-Games goal of a top-10 finish, the team's three gold medals and 10 total medals exceeded the results from the Beijing Winter Olympics four years ago, where Korea won two gold, five silver, and two bronze.
The next Winter Olympics will be held in the French Alps in 2030, preceded by the 2029 Winter Asian Games in Kazakhstan.