S. Korean delegation greeted by U.N. chief at Rio opening ceremony

The South Korean delegation to the Rio de Janeiro Olympics was greeted by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the opening ceremony Friday.

South Korea was the 52nd country to appear in "Parade of Nations" in accordance with the Portuguese alphabet. With the sabre fencer Gu Bon-gil, the 2012 Olympic champion in the men's team event, carrying the national flag, Ban, a South Korean native, gave the delegation a standing ovation from the stands.

South Korea, with Korea Football Association President Chung Mong-gyu as chef de mission, will be represented by 204 athletes and 129 officials in 24 out of 28 sports in Rio.

Its aim is to win at least 10 gold medals to finish in the top 10 in medal standings for the fourth consecutive Summer Games.

The quest for the goal will begin from the get-go on Saturday.

Jin Jong-oh will try to defend his 10m air pistol title and become the first South Korean gold medalist in a second consecutive Olympics. Swimmer Park Tae-hwan will be chasing his third straight Olympic medal in his main event, the 400m freestyle.

In the men's team archery team event, Kim Woo-jin, Ku Bon-chan and Lee Seung-yun will be aiming for the country's fourth gold in the past five Olympics. (Yonhap)