South Korea Culture Minister Choi Hwi Young Visits Milan for 2026 Winter Olympics

by KI SU JEONG Posted : February 4, 2026, 08:12Updated : February 4, 2026, 08:12
Choi Hwi Young, South Korea's minister of culture, sports and tourism.
Choi Hwi Young, South Korea's minister of culture, sports and tourism. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)
Choi Hwi Young, South Korea’s minister of culture, sports and tourism, will attend the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics as the government’s representative. The ministry said Choi will stay in Milan from Feb. 4-8 to cheer on the national team and review on-site support.

On Feb. 5, Choi will visit the athletes’ village to encourage South Korean athletes in final training ahead of the opening and hear their concerns. He will also tour a meal-support center to check preparations for Korean boxed meals provided twice daily to help manage athletes’ nutrition, and thank support staff.

On Feb. 6 and 7, he will attend major events, including the figure skating team competition, to support South Korean athletes.

On Feb. 7, Choi will visit the Main Media Center to encourage the South Korean press corps covering the Games.

The trip will also include sports diplomacy. On Feb. 5, Choi will attend the opening of Korea House and meet officials from the International Olympic Committee and national Olympic committees. The opening will feature K-culture programs including a winter hanbok fashion show, a cover dance to the theme song of “K-pop Demon Hunters,” and a vocal performance.

On Feb. 6, he will attend a reception hosted by Italy’s minister for sport and youth to discuss expanding sports exchanges between the two countries. He will also attend the opening ceremony at San Siro Stadium as part of the government delegation and greet the South Korean team as it enters.

“I will personally check every factor that affects performance — including the training environment and support — so that our athletes’ hard work is not in vain on the Olympic stage,” Choi said. “We will support them through the end so they can compete without regrets and finish the competition safely without injury.”



* This article has been translated by AI.
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