Kim Hyo-bin dedicates Asian Games golds to foster parents

Kim Hyo-bin, a 25-year-old Korean canoeist, dedicated his two gold medals from the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to the foster parents who raised him in a children’s home, The Korea Times reported.

Kim’s medals marked a breakthrough at the Games and brought attention to his path from a children’s home in Buyeo to the top of Asian canoeing, according to The Korea Times.

The Korea Times reported that Kim won gold in the men’s canoe sprint kayak four 500-meter event on Sept. 24, then won the men’s kayak double 500-meter event with Cho Gwang-hee the next day.

After returning to South Korea, Kim placed the medals around the necks of Lee Gong-heon, 70, and Choi Hyeon-suk, 63, at Incheon International Airport, according to The Korea Times. Kim had been placed in a children’s home in Buyeo when he was 9 months old, and Lee and Choi cared for him until he left the home at 19.

"They are my parents," Kim said, according to The Korea Times. "Although I never experienced the care of my biological parents, I don't think it would be easy for any biological parents to care for me as well as they did."

Kim said he faced bullying after entering high school and experienced depression, The Korea Times reported. "Canoeing was what pulled me back when I was going through a difficult period," Kim said.

Choi told The Hankook Ilbo, as cited by The Korea Times, that Kim was frail as a child. "I'm so proud that he has grown up healthy and become one of the best canoeists in Asia," Choi said.

Kim and Cho also criticized the Korea Canoe Federation for what they described as insufficient support and communication after the Games, according to The Korea Times. The federation said it was "examining the situation closely and will communicate with athletes and coaches."

"If there are students or athletes in similar circumstances to mine, I want to tell them, ‘If you don't give up, the world you've dreamed of can surely open up before you.’" Kim said, according to The Korea Times.