Incheon: The main group of South Korean athletes who competed at the Winter Olympics in Italy returned home Tuesday after meeting the country's gold medal target. South Korea finished the Milan-Cortina Winter Games, which concluded Sunday, with three gold medals, four silver medals, and three bronze medals, achieving 13th place in the medal race. The country aimed to secure at least one more gold medal than the two obtained at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, a goal accomplished through the efforts of its short track speed skaters.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the short trackers led the delegation arriving at Incheon International Airport, having contributed to seven of South Korea's 10 medals. Kim Gil-li emerged as South Korea's only double gold medalist, securing the women's 1,500-meter title and anchoring the women's 3,000m relay to gold. She also won a bronze in the 1,000m, becoming the first South Korean short tracker in 12 years to win three medals in an Olympic debut. Kim was voted the MVP of the delegation by South Korean journalists covering the competition.

Another standout was Choi Min-jeong, a short track speed skater who became the most decorated South Korean Olympic athlete with seven career medals. She claimed the 3,000m relay gold and the 1,500m silver medal, finishing behind Kim. The men's short track team secured silver in the 5,000m relay, with individual medals won by Hwang Dae-heon, who took silver in the 1,500m, and Rim Jong-un, who earned bronze in the 1,000m.

South Korea's three additional medals came from snowboarding, with Choi Gaon winning gold in the women's halfpipe, Kim Sang-kyum claiming silver in the men's parallel giant slalom, and Yu Seung-eun taking bronze in the women's big air. The snowboarders returned home earlier this month after their competition concluded.

Joining the short trackers on their return were Korea Sport and Olympic Committee President Ryu Seung-min and Korea Skating Union President Lee Soo-kyung, who served as the country's chef de mission during the Olympics.