The 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will officially draw its curtain with the closing ceremony this evening (October 4).

Concluding a 16-day run since opening on September 19, the South Korean delegation has recorded 39 gold medals, 43 silver medals, and 68 bronze medals as of now, with only the equestrian event remaining today, securing 3rd place overall.

While South Korea successfully defended its 3rd-place standing thanks to stellar performances, including the national football team's historic fourth consecutive victory, simultaneous gold medals by the men's and women's basketball teams, badminton queen An Se-young, and sabre fencing powerhouse Oh Sang-uk, the country fell short of 40 gold medals for the first time since the 1982 New Delhi Games, showing a wide gap behind not only China but also Japan.

The tournament left much to be desired as it exposed systemic operational problems across the board, including lodging, transportation, and competition environments. The next Asian Games will be held in Doha, Qatar.