London 2012: The Countdown Series: South Korea

79 days to go until the first day of the London Olympics. Up next on the parade of nations: South Korea (KOR).

South Korea has participated in the summer Olympics since 1948. A total of 215 medals were won by South Korean athletes including 68 gold medals.

A total of ten South Korean athletes won multiple gold medals in the summer games. Archer Kim Soo Nyong (pictured) has the most individual gold medals for South Korea with four. She won gold in the women's individual (archery) at Seoul 1988 and in the women's team (archery) at Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000.

Two South Koreans have won three gold medals each in their Olympic careers, and both are archers. Yun Mi Jin (pictured) won three golds-in the women's individual (archery) at Sydney 2000 and in the women's team (archery) at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004. Park Seong Hyon also won three gold medals. She won women's individual (archery) at Athens 2004, and in the women's team at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008.

The following South Koreans won two gold medals each:

• Cho Yun Jeong (archery)
• Kim Gyeong Uk (archery)
• Kim Dong Mu (badminton)
• Sim Gwon Ho (wrestling)
• Jang Yong Ho (archery)
• Im Dong Hyeon (archery)
• Park Gyeong Mo (archery)

At the team level, women's handball won back to back gold medals at Seoul 1988 and again at Barcelona 1992. Ironically, both golds came by way of victories over Norway in the final.

The baseball team won the final gold medal ever for baseball in the Olympics, defeating Cuba in the final at Beijing 2008. Baseball, along with softball, are not on the plate for London 2012.

As of now, 191 South Korean athletes are headed to London to compete in 18 events, including athletics, boxing, cycling, judo, taekwondo, swimming, weightlifting and wrestling. In addition, these teams have also qualified for the London games as well:

• men's (field) hockey
• women's (field) hockey
• men's handball
• women's handball
• men's football (soccer)

South Korea was the host country of the 1988 summer games in Seoul.

Up next: Spain