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The primary South Korean team for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics arrived safely in Milan, Italy, on the 31st (Korean time). Led by team leader Lee Soo-kyung, 38 members of the main delegation entered via Milan Malpensa International Airport on a direct flight. Seven members of the group heading to Cortina d’Ampezzo, including those participating in sled events, left with the main team and traveled to Cortina through Paris, France.

On the day at Milan Airport, Choi Tae-ho, the director of the Milan Consulate General, along with members of the Korean community, welcomed the delegation with a sign that said “Welcome, South Korean Athletes!” Park Ji-woo, a speed skater and the flag carrier for the South Korean team during the opening ceremony, representing the Gangwon Provincial Government, and Lee Jun-seo, the captain of the men’s short track team from Seongnam City Hall, were positioned at the front of the group holding the national flag. Cha Jun-hwan, a figure skating team member from Seoul City Hall and the male flag bearer for the opening ceremony, is expected to arrive on the 4th of next month.

The Olympic Village officially commenced operations on the same day, with the delegation preparing to relocate into the village to acclimate to the local surroundings and fine-tune their physical condition. The organizing committee mentioned, “The Italian team was the first to enter the village, followed by the German, Czech, and Japanese teams.”

The South Korean team, consisting of 130 members with 71 athletes, is targeting three gold medals and a position within the top 10 in the overall standings. South Korea’s most recent top-10 performance in the Winter Olympics was at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games, which it hosted, where it came in 7th with five gold, eight silver, and four bronze medals. In international competitions, the latest top-10 placement occurred at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, where it finished 5th with six gold, six silver, and two bronze medals.