She renounced Japanese citizenship to honor her grandmother's dying wish; minister says uniformed public servants are 'national team' too

Heo Mimi smiles on the podium after winning the gold medal in the women's under-57-kilogram judo event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Thursday. [Yonhap]
Heo Mimi smiles on the podium after winning the gold medal in the women's under-57-kilogram judo event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, Japan, on Thursday. [Yonhap]

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kwon O-eul has sent a congratulatory message to Heo Mimi, a descendant of an independence patriot, after she won gold in the women's under-57-kilogram judo event at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Kwon posted on SNS Friday to offer his "heartfelt congratulations" to Heo on her Asian Games gold medal, saying she had "brought great emotion and pride to the Republic of Korea with her precious gold."

Heo claimed the title Thursday at Aichi International Arena in Nagoya, defeating Mongolia's Ariunjaya Terbish by a waza-ari score in the final. It was South Korea's judo team's first gold medal of the Games.

Kwon highlighted Heo's family history, noting that she is a fifth-generation descendant of Heo Seok, a patriot who was imprisoned during the Japanese colonial era for posting anti-Japanese proclamations and was posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation in 1991. Kwon said Heo had "proudly donned the South Korean national team uniform after renouncing her Japanese citizenship in accordance with her grandmother's dying wish to see her compete as a Korean athlete."

"Heo Mimi's indomitable will in overcoming countless hardships, together with the patriotic spirit of Heo Seok, has resonated deeply in the hearts of the Korean people and 2.5 million veterans' families," Kwon said. "Heo Mimi, I am truly grateful."

Heo, who grew up in Japan as a member of the Korean diaspora, said after the match that she had vowed to bring a gold medal to her grandmother's memorial altar before the Games began. "I'm glad I was able to keep that promise," she said — fulfilling her pledge to sing the Korean national anthem on Japanese soil as a representative of her grandmother's country.

Kwon also extended his support to the entire South Korean delegation. "I send warm encouragement and applause not only to Heo Mimi, who has a gold medal around her neck, but to all national team athletes who competed and gave their best at these Asian Games," he said.

The minister also paid tribute to uniformed public servants. "I send my deepest respect and gratitude to our 'other national team' — the uniformed workers who wear the national emblem every day and dedicate themselves around the clock to the safety of the Republic of Korea," Kwon said, referring to members of the military, police, coast guard, fire department and correctional service.


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