Shin Yu-bin and Kim Dong-yong Named South Korea’s Asian Games Flag Bearers

Table tennis star Shin Yu-bin and veteran rower Kim Dong-yong have been selected to carry South Korea’s flag at the opening ceremony of the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced the appointments ahead of Saturday’s ceremony at Nagoya City Mizuho Park Athletic Stadium.

The pair will represent a South Korean delegation that combines established champions with athletes competing across a broad program. South Korea is sending 1,051 athletes and officials to participate in 41 of the Games’ 43 sports. The main delegation was due to arrive in Nagoya on Thursday, although preliminary competition had already begun in football, volleyball and basketball.

Shin, 22, enters the Games as one of South Korea’s most prominent medal contenders. She is scheduled to compete in four table tennis events: women’s singles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles and the women’s team competition. Shin and Lim Jong-hoon are ranked world No. 1 in mixed doubles, strengthening expectations that they can challenge for a medal in Nagoya. The partnership won bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The opening ceremony role adds another distinction to Shin’s Asian Games record. At the 2023 edition, she collected four medals, including gold in the women’s doubles. Her selection as a flag bearer places her at the forefront of a delegation seeking strong results across multiple disciplines.

Kim, 35, brings 17 years of experience representing South Korea in rowing. He will compete in the men’s double sculls and quadruple sculls, with the latter regarded as his stronger medal opportunity. His appointment alongside Shin gives the opening ceremony team representatives from both an indoor racket sport and an endurance discipline on the water.

The committee also named archer Kim Woo-jin and shooter Lee Bo-na as co-captains of the full delegation. Kim Woo-jin, 34, has won five Olympic gold medals, three Asian Games gold medals and 10 world titles, making him one of South Korea’s most decorated athletes. Lee, 45, is the oldest woman on the South Korean team at these Games. She earned two trap shooting medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics and later helped South Korea win the women’s double trap team title.

Together, the flag bearers and co-captains reflect the delegation’s mix of current form, long international service and championship experience. Their ceremonial roles come as competition gathers pace before the formal opening in Nagoya.