Jincheon, Korea, August 15, 2026: Korea’s modern pentathletes will try to win the country's very first gold medal of this year's Asian Games in Japan, Yonhap News reports.
All four gold medals in the sport - in the men's and women's individual and team events - will be awarded at Anjo City on September 20 - the first day of the medal race at Aichi-Nagoya after the opening ceremony on September 19.
Korea will send four male and four female athletes: Jun Woong-tae, Seo Chang-wan, Lee Jong-hyun and Kim Young-ha for men; and Seong Seung-min, Shin Sumin, Jang Ha-eun and Kim Yu-ri for women.
Jun, the 2021 Olympic bronze medalist, won both the individual and team titles at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games.
"My teammates all have such a determined look in their eyes. I can see that they are ready to show everything they have at this competition," said Jun, the team's captain, during a joint national team press conference at the Jincheon National Training Center.
"We will try to come home with all four gold medals from the men's and women's events."
Modern pentathlon underwent a significant change after the 2024 Olympics, with equestrian show jumping being replaced by obstacle racing, a la "Ninja Warrior."
Head coach Kim Sung-jin said his athletes have been working with a Filipino instructor to improve their obstacle skills.
"When the change was first made, our focus was simply on clearing obstacles," Kim said.
"Since then, our athletes have learned how to maintain their rhythm and flow throughout the course and their performances have improved a great deal."