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 had aimed to win at least one more gold medal than the two it secured at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, achieving this goal through a late push by its short track speed skaters.

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

Another notable athlete, Choi Min-jeong, became the most decorated South Korean Olympic athlete with seven career medals. She contributed to the 3,000m relay gold and won a silver medal in the 1,500m event, finishing behind Kim.

The men's short track team added to the medal tally with a silver in the 5,000m relay. Individual successes included Hwang Dae-heon securing silver in the 1,500m and Rim Jong-un winning bronze in the 1,000m.

South Korea's snowboarding team also contributed to the medal count. Choi Gaon won gold in the women's halfpipe, Kim Sang-kyum claimed silver in the men's parallel giant slalom, and Yu Seung-eun took bronze in the women's big air. The snowboarders had returned earlier this month after their competition concluded.

Korea Sport and Olympic Committee President Ryu Seung-min flew back with the short trackers, alongside Korea Skating Union President Lee Soo-kyung, who served as the country's chef de mission during the Olympics.