Jincheon: Hur Yoon-seo is still just 20 years old, but she is now the senior member of the South Korean artistic swimming team. Her longtime partner, Lee Ri-young, retired after the 2024 Olympics, and Hur has now formed a new team with the 18-year-old Kim Ji-yoon. Lee Gyu-bin, 17, is the reserve member. Together, Hur and Kim will try to deliver South Korea its first Asian Games medal since 2010, when this year's competition gets under way next month in Japan.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Hur expressed optimism and determination in the new partnership during a joint press conference with the national swimming team at the Jincheon National Training Center, about 85 kilometers south of Seoul. "Even though we have not been together for very long, we really hit it off from the beginning," Hur said. "Our goal is to reach the podium."

Hur spoke about the transition from being the youngest team member to taking on a leadership role. She mentioned the learning curve that comes with mentoring younger teammates. "There is a lot that I have to pay attention to, but I am also learning so much from my teammates," Hur added. "Ji-yoon and I have been great together in training."

Kim Ji-yoon, making her Asian Games debut, admitted to feeling nervous but emphasized the support she receives from Hur. "Since the start of this year, I have been working really hard on my techniques," Kim said. "My partner has so much international experience, and I am learning a lot from her."

Regarding the stress of preparing for her first major event, Kim shared her strategy for overcoming challenges. "I think the only way to overcome mental blocks is to train," she said. "I have been trying my best to stay locked in," Kim added. "And whenever I hit a snag, I turn to Yoon-seo or my coaches for advice."