Lee pledges full support for Korean sports, urges athletes to shine beyond wins and losses

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that the government would spare no effort in supporting Korean sports on the world stage, urging athletes to go beyond winning and losing and showcase the skills they had worked hard to develop.

Lee made the remarks in a commemorative address at the opening ceremony of the 107th National Sports Festival, held that afternoon at Jeju World Cup Stadium.

He opened by thanking Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yoo Seung-min and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Governor Wi Seong-gon for their efforts, saying that "sports have a special power to make our lives healthier and richer, and to bring together people who think differently."

Lee also praised the South Korean athletes who competed at the recently concluded Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. "Our athletes showed a fighting spirit that never gave up until the very last moment," he said. "Watching them push past their limits and take on challenges alongside their teammates gave everyone who was watching great inspiration and courage."

He underscored the historical significance of the National Sports Festival and its role in national unity. "The National Sports Festival has grown alongside Korean sports for more than 100 years, making it the country's largest multi-sport event," Lee said. "It has been a stage for harmony and solidarity, bringing the nation together through sports."

"The countless challenges that began at the National Sports Festival have been the driving force behind the growth of Korean sports and a solid foundation from which our athletes have gone on to bigger stages," he said, adding that he hoped this year's event would be one where everyone could feel the appeal of sports through fierce competition and warm camaraderie.

Lee also pledged to build an athlete-centered environment and strengthen support for the sports community. "The government will provide solid backing so that all citizens can enjoy sports in their daily lives, athletes can nurture their dreams in better conditions, and sports professionals can take pride in what they do," he said.

Addressing the athletes directly, Lee said, "Today, you are the stars of this stage," and urged them to respect and encourage one another and display the skills they had spent so long preparing — "beyond winning or losing." He went on to say he hoped the 107th National Sports Festival would become "a festival of inspiration and unity that athletes and the public alike will remember for a long time."