By Yoon Sung-won
GWANGJU ― Korea was leading the medal standings for the second straight day at the 2015 Gwangju Universiade, Tuesday.
Expectations are high that the host country’s better-than-expected performance will lead Korea to finish the games with its highest ranking ever.
Korea added nine gold medals for a total of 19 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals; followed by Japan and China as of 9 p.m. on day five.
The Korean delegation has said it aims to win more than 25 gold and finish in third place in the overall medal standings.
Public attention for the Universiade took a hit due to the absence of the North Korean delegation and a series of incidents, such as the early pull-out of Olympic gold-medal winning gymnast Yang Hak-seon after an injury.
The Korean delegation said Sunday that Yang will not be able to continue performing at the Universiade as he injured his right leg during the gymnastics competition.
As a native of the host city, Yang was named an honorary ambassador of the Universiade and was considered one of the local star athletes who would win medals for Korea.
His unexpected pull-out has caused concerns that it may have negative impact not only on the Korean gymnastics team’s attempt for the gold, but also on the popularity of the event as a whole.
On June 19, North Korea informed the Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee (GUOC) that it would not participate in the event. The North said the decision came in response to the United Nations’ opening of an office in Seoul to monitor human rights issues in North Korea.
The absence of North Korean athletes, whose participation in international events has drawn attention both at home and abroad, threw another wet blanket on the event two weeks ahead of the Universade, adding to the nationwide outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).
Waiting for the North to change its mind, the GUOC left 588 seats unoccupied at the opening ceremony of the Universiade on June 3.