At the Paris Olympics, an interesting anecdote emerged involving Hyundai Card Vice Chairman Chung Tae-young (Ted Chung), who was seen cheering for his daughter-in-law, Lydia Ko, during the women’s individual golf event. Lydia Ko, a New Zealand golfer, married Chung’s son, Chung Jun, in 2022. In a heartwarming twist, it was revealed that Chung’s wife, Hyundai Commercial President Chung Myung-yi, personally arranged for Korean lunch boxes to be delivered to Paris, knowing Lydia’s love for Korean food.
On the 13th, Vice Chairman Chung shared on Facebook, “In the Olympics, maintaining the right diet is crucial for athletes, especially under isolation. Lydia’s fondness for Korean cuisine is well-known.” He recounted how this behind-the-scenes effort to provide Lydia with her favorite foods unfolded during the Olympics.
Chung explained that while Lydia Ko’s sister initially provided enough Korean food for a day or two, more supplies were soon needed. Lydia’s mother-in-law, who was nearby, stepped in to help. The lunch boxes were prepared at the same restaurant that had previously catered to the gold medal-winning Korean archery team in the hopes of carrying over that winning spirit to Lydia. Due to strict security measures, delivering the food directly to the Olympic accommodation was not possible. Instead, the lunch boxes were handed off to officials near the Olympic venue, who then passed them on to Lydia’s team.
Chung expressed his gratitude to the restaurant for carefully preparing the meals daily, as well as to those who assisted with the delivery, including French officials who recognized the importance of the food and ensured it was safely delivered. He humorously suggested that perhaps the “gold medal energy” from the archers also found its way to Lydia through these meals.
Lydia Ko went on to win the gold medal in women’s golf at the Paris Olympics on Aug 11., finishing with a score of 10-under-par 278. Vice Chairman Chung was present at the event to cheer her on. After her victory, Lydia Ko commented, “I had Korean food every day here. My sister brought plenty of bulgogi (sliced and seasoned barbequed beef), Ojingeo-bokkeum (stir-fried squid), and Samgye-tang (ginseng chicken soup). Today’s win is thanks to her.” She added, “Though my husband couldn’t be here, my parents-in-law were there to support me.”
