Republic of Korea made their winter Olympics debut at St. Moritz 1948. They skipped Oslo 1952, and then returned at Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956, and has since had at least one athlete in the winter games. 45 medals have been won by the South Korean contingent including 23 gold medals.
Republic of Korea has known to be a short track speed skating juggernaut, especially in the winter Olympics. Jeon I-Gyeong (pictured) is the most decorated south Korean athlete in the winter games, as the short track speed skater won four gold medals in her career. She won the 1000m event as well as a gold as a part of the 3000m relay team; all at Lillehammer 1994 and again at Nagano 1998.
Anh Hyeon Su (pictured) won three gold medals himself on the short track. His wins in the 1000m, 1500m and as a part of the 5000m relay team came at Turin 2006. Anh will skate for Russia (the host country) at Sochi. He wasn't the only triple Olympic gold medalist in the winter games. Jin Seon Yu also won three gold medals, and just like Anh, won them on the short track. She won the 1000m, 1500m and as a member of the 3000m relay team, and also at Sochi 2014. Kim Gi Hun also won three gold medals as well, and also on the short track. He won the 1000m and 5000m at Albertville 1992 and the 1000m at Lillehammer 1994.
Four South Koreans won gold twice in the winter games:
- Kim Yun Mi, short track speed skating, women, 3000m relay team member, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998
- Won Hye Gyong, short track speed skating, women, 3000m relay team member, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998
- Choi Eun Gyeong, short track speed skating, women, 3000m relay team member, Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006
- Lee Jeong Su, short track speed skating, men, 1000m and 15000m, Vancouver 2010
The country will be the host for the 2018 winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
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