South Korea at the 2002 Asian Games

South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea) was the host nation of the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan from September 29 to October 14, 2002. South Korea was represented by the Korean Olympic Committee, and the South Korean delegation was the largest in this edition of the Asian Games. The delegation of 1,008 people included 770 competitors – 460 men, 310 women – and 238 officials (217 men and 21 women). North Korea competed for the first time in an international sporting event hosted by South Korea. Both nations marched together at the opening ceremony with a Korean Unification Flag depicting the Korean Peninsula as United Korea.

South Korea at the
2002 Asian Games
IOC codeKOR
NOCKorean Olympic Committee
in Busan
Competitors769 in 36 sports
Flag bearerHwangbo Sung-il
Officials238
Medals
Ranked 2nd
Gold
96
Silver
80
Bronze
84
Total
260
Asian Games appearances (overview)

Competitors from the South Korea led the bronze medal count with 84 in the general medal table. South Korea also won 96 gold medals, 80 silver medals and a total of 260 medals, finishing second on the medal table.[1]

Background edit

South Korea hosted the Asian Games for the second time after the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul. 2002 Asian Games (officially known as the 14th Asian Games) came out to be politically successful for the host nation as this was the first time in the history that North Korea competed in an international sporting event hosted by their southern neighbor.[2]

National Olympic Committee of South Korea, Korean Olympic Committee, selected a delegation consisted of 770 athletes (460 men and 310 women) and 238 officials (217 men and 21 women).[3] This was the largest delegation of any nation in the Games, comparing with the second largest delegation of Japan which included 659 athletes and 329 officials.[3]

Medal summary edit

Korean contingents earned total 260 medals in 38 sports and disciplines. In the national sport Taekwondo, Korean athletes won most medals (twelve gold, three silver and a bronze).[4]

Medals by discipline edit

SportGoldSilverBronzeTotal
  Taekwondo123116
  Soft tennis73212
  Shooting6121129
  Fencing66315
  Wrestling66012
  Sailing62210
  Cycling52613
  Judo45514
  Badminton4239
  Modern pentathlon4116
  Boxing32510
  Gymnastics3249
  Bowling3227
  Athletics3216
  Bodybuilding3025
  Equestrian2406
  Table tennis2338
  Archery2125
  Handball2002
  Rugby union2002
  Tennis1337
  Swimming12811
  Golf1225
  Cue sports1214
  Weightlifting1146
  Basketball1102
  Hockey1102
  Volleyball1102
  Wushu1102
  Sepaktakraw1034
  Baseball1001
  Canoeing0527
  Diving0213
  Synchronized swimming0112
  Rowing0033
  Football0011
  Karate0011
  Squash0011
Totals (38 entries)968084260

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Overall medal standings – Busan 2002". ocasia.org. Olympic Council of Asia. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  2. ^ "The Koreas united, for a day". The Economist. Westminster. October 3, 2002. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Participation General – Each National & Regional". busanasiangames.org. Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee. Archived from the original on June 23, 2003. Retrieved January 30, 2012.
  4. ^ "Medal Standing (view by sport) – Korea". busanasiangames.org. Busan Asian Games Organizing Committee. Archived from the original on June 23, 2003. Retrieved January 30, 2012.