{
  "id": 9858572,
  "title": "New face emerges as S. Korea fails to match 2023 success",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/new-face-emerges-as-s-korea-fails-to-match-2023-success-9858572",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-25T23:27:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/sports/20260926/new-face-emerges-as-s-korea-fails-to-match-2023-success"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Tokyo for the Asian Games, the South Korean swimming delegation arrived with the intent of repeating their 2023 triumph. However, they left the Japanese capital with a lower medal tally than their 2023 performance at Hangzhou, China. South Korea secured 20 medals in a span of six days at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, including one gold, six silver, and 13 bronze. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asiad, South Korea achieved 22 medals in the pool, the highest number they had ever collected at a single Asiad, comprising six gold medals.\n\nTwo freestyle alpha dogs, Kim Woo-min and Hwang Sun-woo, spearheaded the charge in 2023, winning the gold in the men's 4x200-meter freestyle relay. Kim Woo-min also claimed gold in the 400m and 800m freestyle events, while Hwang Sun-woo secured victory in the 200m freestyle. This year, however, a fresh face emerged as the beacon of South Korean swimming's future: 20-year-old Kim Young-beom. The robust freestyler started his campaign with a silver medal in the men's 100m freestyle, challenging the world record holder, Pan Zhanle, before ultimately conceding to him.",
  "summary": "TOKYO — The South Korean national swimming delegation arrived in Tokyo for the Asian Games with a goal of replicating its success from three years ago. The team is leaving the Japanese capital having won fewer medals than it had in Hangzhou, China, but having also witnessed the rise of a new force. South Korea finished with 20 medals across six days at Tokyo Aquatics Centre, with one gold, six…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "(Asiad) New face emerges as S. Korea fails to match 2023 success",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/asiad-new-face-emerges-as-s-korea-fails-to-match-2023-success",
        "published": "2026-09-25T22:00:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "New face emerges as S. Korea fails to match 2023 success",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/25/new-face-emerges-as-s-korea-fails-to-match-2023-success",
        "published": "2026-09-25T23:12:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}