Culture ministry official to cheer on Korean team at Nagoya Asian Games

The culture ministry said Tuesday that Vice Minister Kim Dae-hyun will travel to Japan to support South Korea's national team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Summer Asian Games, visiting competition venues and athlete facilities from Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

Kim's itinerary opens at the badminton venue on Sept. 29. The following morning he will attend the compound archery competition, before moving to the judo venue in the afternoon and then visiting the athletes' village to encourage competitors and support staff.

This year's games are not building a single central athletes' village. Organizers instead are using shipping containers, a cruise ship and existing accommodation to house teams at several sites, and the Korean support headquarters has been split across five locations in Aichi and Nagoya.

Kim plans to visit the Garden Pier container village, the main athletes' village for the event, and the nearby Kinjo Pier cruise village, where he will meet Korean Sport & Olympic Committee officials handling close support for the team and hear about difficulties they face. He will also inspect the Korea House, which operates in Nagoya as a base for supporting the national team, sports diplomacy and the promotion of Korean culture and tourism, and will hear feedback from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and the Korea Tourism Organization.

"Our national team athletes are showing remarkable performances on Asia's biggest stage," Kim said. "I hope their efforts and sweat will return as fruits without regret."

He added that the ministry will do its utmost to support the athletes' safety and health above all else.