D-6 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics: Complete Analysis of Team Korea's 20 Athletes and Their Gold Medal Goals, Led by Kim Yun-ji and Lee Yong-seok–Baek Hye-jin
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics opens on March 6. Korea is sending a 20-athlete delegation across 5 sports, targeting 1 gold medal, 1 bronze medal, and a top-20 overall finish. Key medal contenders are world-ranked #1 wheelchair curling mixed doubles team Lee Yong-seok–Baek Hye-jin, Nordic skier Kim Yun-ji, and alpine skier Choi Sara.
Why you need to read this now: Before the excitement of the Milano Winter Olympics even fades, a more intense challenge begins. World-ranked #1 wheelchair curling pair Lee Yong-seok–Baek Hye-jin, and Nordic skier Kim Yun-ji with her string of World Cup victories — here is your complete breakdown of which sports Korea should be targeting for medals with just D-6 to go.
TL;DR
- 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics opens: March 6 (Opening ceremony March 7 at 4:00 AM KST, Verona Arena)
- Korean delegation: 20 athletes across 5 sports (alpine skiing · biathlon · cross-country skiing · snowboard · wheelchair curling)
- Goal: 1 gold medal · 1 bronze medal, top-20 overall finish
- Key medal contenders: Kim Yun-ji (Nordic skiing), Lee Yong-seok–Baek Hye-jin (wheelchair curling mixed doubles), Choi Sara (alpine skiing)
- KBS broadcasting all events (live + highlights, simultaneous on YouTube & KPC-TV)
The Facts — What Is About to Begin
The 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics runs for 10 days from March 6 to 15 across the Milano and Cortina d'Ampezzo area of Italy. The opening ceremony takes place at Verona Arena on March 6 at 8:00 PM local time (March 7 at 4:00 AM KST).
The Korea Paralympic Committee (President Jeong Jin-wan) is sending a total delegation of 56 people, including 20 athletes across 5 sports (an initial 16 + 4 added via the bipartite process). This is the largest Korean delegation in Winter Paralympics history.
Korea's 5 Sports
| Sport | Key Athletes | Global Competitiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Nordic Skiing (Biathlon & Cross-Country) | Kim Yun-ji | World ranking #1, consecutive World Cup wins |
| Wheelchair Curling Mixed Doubles | Lee Yong-seok · Baek Hye-jin | World ranking #1, top gold medal contenders |
| Alpine Skiing | Choi Sara | World ranking #3 in downhill |
| Snowboard | Choi Ga-on and others | Includes Milano Olympics gold medalist |
| Biathlon | Kim Yun-ji (dual event) | Sprint World Cup #1 |
Why It's Trending Now
① Halo Effect from the Milano Winter Olympics
Korea finished 13th overall at the February 6–22 Milano Winter Olympics with 3 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Emerging stars like Kim Gil-li, Choi Ga-on, and Yoo Seung-eun delivered medal after medal, bringing winter sports interest to a peak — and the Paralympics follows immediately. The conditions are ripe for a natural continuation of that attention.
② Two World-Ranked #1 Teams Competing Simultaneously
The Lee Yong-seok–Baek Hye-jin wheelchair curling mixed doubles pair hold the #1 world ranking. Kim Yun-ji is a strong gold medal contender, having recently topped the World Cup in the cross-country skiing mass start and biathlon sprint pursuit. Having two teams simultaneously competing for gold at the same Games is extraordinary.
③ Full KBS Live Coverage
KBS, as a public broadcaster, will air all events live. Coverage is also available via KBS Sports YouTube and KPC-TV. A special 5-part documentary Connecting · Existing: Our Paralympics (aired February 23–27) and a 50-minute special airing March 1 are building pre-Games excitement.
Context & Background — Korea's Winter Paralympics History
Korea's Winter Paralympics medal push began in earnest at Vancouver 2010. At Beijing 2022, the Lee Yong-seok–Park Jin-ho pair won gold in wheelchair curling. The biggest storyline of these Games is Lee Yong-seok switching partners to Baek Hye-jin for the mixed doubles event.
Choi Ga-on (snowboard) is the very same name who won gold at the Milano Winter Olympics. The fact that young athletes are crossing back and forth between the Olympics and Paralympics is itself proof of the expanding base of Korean winter sports.
Outlook — How Far Can They Go?
Checklist — 5 Things You Must Know
Reference Links
- Milano-Cortina 2026: Team Korea Paralympic Delegation & How to Watch (Olympics.com)
- Chosun Ilbo — 20 Korean athletes confirmed for Milano-Cortina Winter Paralympics
- Ablenews — 2026 Milano·Cortina Winter Paralympics delegation confirmed at 56
Image Credit
- Header image: 2006 Torino Winter Paralympics Wheelchair Curling, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain (Rck S.)