President Moon Jae-in on Sunday offered words of encouragement to South Korean short track skaters who garnered one gold and one bronze in their matches at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics a day earlier.

In his posts on Facebook and Twitter, Moon called them the "world's strongest," praising their efforts to "push their limits" to make it to the quadrennial games that run until next Sunday.

President Moon Jae-in (C) and first lady Kim Jung-sook (2nd from R) watch a short track skating event at Gangneung Ice Arena in Gangeung, around 240 kilometers east of Seoul, in this photo provided by his office Cheong Wa Dae on Feb. 18, 2018. Gangeung is a sub-host city of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. (Yonhap)

"I appreciate the efforts by our national short track representatives who are the world's strongest," Moon said. "(At the stadium), I more deeply felt how much sweat you shed and how much trouble you went through over the last four years."

On Saturday, Moon and first lady Kim Jung-sook visited the Gangneung Ice Arena where South Korean athletes competed in the women's 1,500-meter short track speed skating and men's 1,000-meter short track event.

Choi Min-jeong captured her first Olympic gold, blowing away the field to win the women's 1,500m. Seo Yi-ra won bronze for his first Olympic medal in the men's 1,000m.

"Your challenge has yet to end. Make sure you don't get injured, and let us do our utmost until the end," Moon said. "Along with the citizens, (I will) root for you." (Yonhap)

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