“Gold with an injury, tears of joy”: Poomsae’s Jung Ha-eun says, “If my body allows it, I want to win another Asian Games gold” [Aichi-Nagoya AG]

*This content was translated by AI.

She chose the path of an athlete only in her second year of high school, significantly later than others. And then she hung a valuable gold medal around her neck at the Asian Games, which she had considered the stage of her dreams.

Jung Ha-eun (25, Yongin Special City Hall) won the gold medal by scoring an average of 9.3100 points in both the prescribed and free poomsae at the final of the women’s individual poomsae event held on the 1st at Toyohashi Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Jung Ha-eun was in a physical condition that made it difficult to compete normally in this tournament. She had injuries in both Achilles tendons and her hamstrings, but she still took the stage at her first-ever Asian Games.

In the semifinals held that morning, Jung Ha-eun advanced to the final, which features the top four athletes from each group, after ranking first in Group A with an average score of 8.9300. She received the highest scores among all competitors in both the prescribed and free poomsae, and she was also dominant in the final.

Jung Ha-eun, who competed in the last slot, took the lead by scoring 9.320 points in the prescribed poomsae of Jitae, and then secured the gold medal by earning the highest score of 9.3000 points in the free poomsae as well.

Jung Ha-eun, who won a gold medal at her first Asian Games, could not hide her joy. According to NEWSIS, Jung Ha-eun said, “I trained three times a day to prepare for this tournament. Every time I compete in an important event, I approach it with the mindset that it might be my last, and this time was no different.” She added, “It is my first Asian Games, but it could also turn out to be my last, so I am happy to have won a gold medal.”

Even for this tournament alone, she competed while carrying an injury. There have been many difficulties throughout her athletic career. “I am originally someone who cries easily. But I do not cry because my mind is wavering,” she said. “When I feel like I am falling apart, I cry a lot and then stand back up. I have continued my athletic career by repeating that process,” showing composure.

In South Korea, the birthplace of taekwondo, domestic selection tournaments are as fierce as international competitions. This is why Jung Ha-eun, who is only in her mid-20s, frequently uses the word “last.” She said, “It is harder to rank first in the South Korean national team selection tournament. I am in my mid-20s, yet young athletes aged 20 and 21 keep emerging,” but she also resolved herself by saying, “If my body allows it, I will continue to work hard, come out to another Asian Games, and win a gold medal.”

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*This content was translated by AI.