Wheelchair rugby athlete Kim Dong-sung secured a historic gold medal for South Korea at the Asian Games by defeating top-ranked Japan, yet he recently expressed frustration over the lack of media coverage.
Despite the landmark victory, Kim said that the achievement failed to generate significant news reports, highlighting broader concerns regarding the visibility of para-sports.
The sentiment was shared during the November 9 broadcast of “Malja Show” on KBS 2TV, where Kim, a wheelchair rugby national team representative, reflected on the disconnect between his team’s performance and public acknowledgement.
Kim emphasized that the victory over Japan, a powerhouse in the sport, was a defining moment for the program. “It is the first gold medal in history, yet there isn’t a single line of news,” Kim told FAM Times.
Kim argued that a performance of this magnitude should have commanded extensive media attention. He underscored that his teammates endured training regimens significantly more grueling than those typically documented in mainstream sports media. By speaking out, Kim aimed to draw attention to the systemic invisibility that athletes in disability sports often face despite their high-level competitive achievements.
The broadcast also featured other national representatives who provided insight into the diverse realities of elite para-athletics. Among them were a bronze medalist in shooting and the gold-medal-winning men’s goalball team. The discussion allowed these athletes to share the personal and professional hurdles they face while representing the nation.
Taekwondo national athlete Im Ji-yoon, who participated in her first Asian Games, shared her unique challenge of balancing her career as a high-performance fighter with her academic background in theatrical direction.
Im said that as a national team member of three years, she is acutely aware of the thin talent pool in her discipline, specifically citing that there are only two female athletes across five weight classes in the disabled taekwondo category.
“My major in theater and my current path in taekwondo feel like they have very different characteristics, which leads me to worry about my future direction,” Im told FAM Times.
| Athlete | Sport | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Dong-sung | Wheelchair Rugby | Gold Medal |
| Unnamed Athlete | Shooting | Bronze Medal |
| Men’s Team | Goalball | Gold Medal |
According to Park, the focus has now shifted toward the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics. He stressed that while athletes strive for the national honor, a lack of public engagement can lead to burnout.
“Even if we win a gold medal, it is not just for our own benefit; we came here for the sake of the country, so it needs to be widely known,” Park told FAM Times. He added that while public interest is vital, the athletes themselves must continue to foster a sense of internal community to persevere through the demanding training cycles required for international competition.
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