All five athletes place at IFBB World and Asian Championships national team trials
Team claims all-podium finish for second consecutive year since 1996 founding
Gwangjin-gu's bodybuilding team claimed four gold medals and six silver medals at the 2026 Mr. Korea and IFBB World and Asian Championships national team selection trials, held Aug. 14-16 at the Hwabaek International Convention Center in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province — with all five competing athletes finishing on the podium.
Organized by the Korea Bodybuilding Federation, the competition served a dual purpose: selecting the Mr. Korea titleholders and naming national team representatives for the IFBB World and Asian Championships, drawing top-ranked athletes from across the country.
Gwangjin-gu fielded five athletes — Kim Tae-won, Seo Gyo, Baek Jae-wook, Kwon O-yun and Go Chan-gyeong — each of whom delivered standout performances in their respective weight classes.
Kim Tae-won (under-164cm class) swept both the Mr. Korea title and the World Championships gold to claim a double crown. Seo Gyo (over-90kg class) took gold at Mr. Korea, while Go Chan-gyeong (under-171cm class) won gold at the World Championships.
Baek Jae-wook (under-175cm class) earned silver medals at both Mr. Korea and the World Championships. Kwon O-yun (under-168cm class) collected silver at all three events — Mr. Korea, the World Championships and the Asian Championships.
Since its founding in 1996, the Gwangjin-gu bodybuilding team has consistently posted strong results at major domestic and international competitions, establishing itself as one of the district's premier competitive sports programs. Building on last year's achievements — which included a grand prize at Mr. Seoul and a clean sweep of podium finishes at Mr. Korea — the team has now secured an all-podium result for the second consecutive year, cementing its reputation as an elite program.
The team plans to intensify training ahead of the 2026 IFBB World and Asian Championships, scheduled for October through November.
In addition, the team will continue to expand its community outreach in the second half of the year, offering tailored fitness coaching and volunteer instruction for Gwangjin-gu residents to promote public health and bridge the gap between competitive and recreational sports.
"I am proud of our athletes for demonstrating exceptional skill on a stage where they competed against the country's best," Gwangjin-gu District Mayor Kim Kyung-ho said. "We will actively support our athletes so they can perform to their fullest potential, and we will pursue a range of initiatives to ensure that the achievements of competitive sports translate into improved health and a more vibrant recreational sports culture for our residents."
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