Mayor Lee Min-keun praised the gold medal achievements of Seo Ji-yeon and Kim Jeong-mi on September 29, stating that their success has elevated the pride of Ansan citizens.
On this day, Mayor Lee warmly encouraged the Ansan City Hall fencing team members, who won the gold medal in the women's sabre team event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Seo and Kim competed in the final on September 27 at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan, defeating the Japanese team 45-31 to secure the gold medal.
This marks the first gold medal for the Korean women's sabre team since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, drawing significant attention.
Mayor Lee described this achievement as a valuable result for the athletes representing South Korea and a source of pride for the citizens of Ansan.
He stated, “I extend my congratulations and gratitude to Seo Ji-yeon and Kim Jeong-mi for their outstanding performance on such a grand stage as the Asian Games. Their brilliant achievements have brought great pride and joy to the people of Ansan.”
Notably, this gold medal is significant as both athletes from Ansan City Hall competed as national representatives on the international stage.
As the team captain, Seo Ji-yeon played a central role, utilizing her extensive international competition experience to manage the match effectively.
During the match, when Seo collided with an opponent and had to be substituted, Kim Jeong-mi stepped in and continued the competition, contributing to the team's victory by scoring points.
Mayor Lee has consistently supported local athletes through the workplace sports department, helping them grow as professional athletes and showcase their skills on the international stage.
Previously, the Ansan City Hall fencing team also demonstrated their competitiveness by winning the women's sabre team event at the 2026 Asian Fencing Championships.
Mayor Lee has emphasized the importance of encouraging athletes and coaches who have achieved success in domestic and international competitions, aiming to enhance sports development and civic pride.
This gold medal at the Asian Games serves as another opportunity to highlight the international achievements of the Ansan City Hall workplace sports department.
As news of the gold medal spread, citizens of Ansan expressed their excitement over the athletes' accomplishments. They remarked, “I am proud to be a citizen of Ansan,” and noted, “It is especially meaningful that the athletes representing South Korea are from Ansan City Hall.”
Many also commented on the impressive determination of the athletes, stating, “It was remarkable how they maintained their composure and secured the gold medal even after a substitution due to injury.”
Meanwhile, the women's sabre team included Jeon Ha-young, Choi Se-bin, Seo Ji-yeon, and Kim Jeong-mi, with the Korean team defeating Hong Kong in the quarterfinals, China in the semifinals, and Japan in the final to claim the championship.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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