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Milan-Cortina Paralympians mark disability sports festival with FC Seoul

Published: 19 Apr. 2026, 17:19

From left: Medalists from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics Kim Yun-ji, Lee Yong-seok, Baek Hye-jin and Lee Je-hyuk take part in the match ball delivery and ceremonial kickoff ahead of the K League match between FC Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen at Seoul World Cup Stadium on April 18, two days before the Day of Persons with Disabilities. [FC SEOUL]

A disability sports festival with 2026 Paralympians took place by the Korean Paralympic Committee at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on Saturday, ahead of the 46th Day of Persons with Disabilities on Monday.

Sponsored by Prospecs and K League 1 club FC Seoul, the interactive event brought together people with and without disabilities to promote disability sports.

The festival's “Dream Paralympics” program allowed visitors to experience sports such as wheelchair basketball and blind football firsthand, while another event invited participants to send messages of support to athletes preparing for the Asian Para Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 in October.

Medalists from the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics also attended, helping to bring attention to the event.

Kim Yun-ji, who took home two gold medals in cross-country skiing and biathlon, met with visitors and delivered the match ball for the FC Seoul-Daejeon Hana Citizen game. Snowboard bronze medalist Lee Je-hyuk performed the ceremonial kickoff.

Wheelchair curling silver medalists Baek Hye-jin and Lee Yong-seok were also present, along with Nam Bong-kwang, Baek’s husband and a member of Korea’s four-person wheelchair curling team.

The professional baseball league is also participating in upcoming efforts to promote disability sports. Lee Je-hyuk will throw the ceremonial first pitch at the KT Wiz-KIA Tigers game in Suwon, Gyeonggi, on Tuesday, while Kim will do the same at the LG Twins-Hanwha Eagles game at Jamsil Stadium in southern Seoul on Thursday.

“I was very grateful that so many people congratulated me after the Paralympics,” Kim said. “When I hear people say they want to try Nordic skiing after watching me, or that they gained strength from my performance, it motivates me even more and makes me proud.”

Kim said she plans to balance her studies and training when she returns from her current leave of absence from the Korea National Sport University. She also expressed hope for athletes competing in the upcoming Asian Para Games. Kim was previously named MVP in swimming at the National Para Games in 2024.

Kim Yun-ji, a double gold medalist in Nordic skiing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, left, hands the match ball to referee Kim Jong-hyeok during the K League match between FC Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen at Seoul World Cup Stadium on April 18, two days before the Day of Persons with Disabilities. [FC SEOUL]

“I hope the athletes achieve their goals without getting injured,” she said.

Lee Je-hyuk won Korea’s first Paralympic medal in snowboarding, but he noted it was not easy winning a medal at his second Paralympics after falling short at the Beijing Games in 2022.

“I’m happy with the result. I was disappointed in Beijing, but I thought, ‘There will be another opportunity. I’ll just keep on snowboarding, which I love,’ and I was able to move on quickly,” he said.

Having also achieved strong results in nondisabled competitions, the boarder added with a laugh, “Athletes with disabilities also compete in many nondisabled events. I think I entered just about every snowboarding competition available.”

He shared that he is looking forward to what lies ahead, especially in the next four and eight years.

“I hope that by then, not just me but many athletes with disabilities can compete together as a larger team and win more medals,” he said.

Wheelchair curling silver medalist Lee Yong-seok also expressed gratitude to his teammate Baek, saying, “I was lucky this year. I was very happy. I think I was able to achieve good results thanks to my teammate, and I’m grateful.”

Both Baek and Lee Yong-seok, who acquired their disabilities later in life, first met while undergoing rehabilitation treatment at the National Rehabilitation Center.

Baek responded, “After returning from the Paralympics, I took a short break and then went straight back to training. I’m always grateful to Yong-seok as well.”

Baek had originally planned to compete in the Paralympics with her husband Nam, but instead partnered with Lee Yong-seok in the mixed doubles event.

Lee Je-hyuk,a snowboard bronze medalist at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, performs the ceremonial kickoff during the K League match between FC Seoul and Daejeon Hana Citizen at Seoul World Cup Stadium on April 18, two days before the Day of Persons with Disabilities. [FC SEOUL]

“I wish the four-person game had gone better,” Baek said. “He told me it was still great that at least we [Lee Yong-seok and I] won a medal. I think I’ll continue competing with Yong-seok going forward.”

Lee Yong-seok added, “It hasn’t really sunk in yet since there are still four years to go. If I get another chance, I’ll make up for what I couldn’t achieve this time.”

Both athletes expressed hope for more opportunities and greater accessibility for people with disabilities.

“There are many events for nondisabled people, so I hope more events for people with disabilities will be held,” Lee Yong-seok said.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM HYO-KYOUNG [[email protected]]