South Korean media report a surprise as Coach Kim Sang Sik receives the Gold Medal

Coach Kim Sang Sik received a distinctive Gold Medal presented by a Vietnamese enterprise, which caught South Korean media off guard.

“Coach Kim Sang Sik, who leads the Vietnam national football team, was presented with a solid gold medal worth over 28 million won after helping Vietnamese football create a historic milestone in Southeast Asia”, Daum commented.

According to SEA Games 33 regulations, the host organizers only award 23 medals to the 23 players participating in the football event. Therefore, despite his major contribution to the U22 Vietnam team’s championship, Coach Kim Sang Sik did not receive a SEA Games Gold Medal to celebrate like his players. To honor Coach Kim Sang Sik’s contributions to Vietnamese football, several domestic organizations devised and crafted a special gift for the Korean coach.

This is a limited edition gold medal, made entirely of 24K gold, weighing 33 chỉ (a traditional unit), valued at over 500 million VND (equivalent to 28 million won). The number 33 symbolizes not only the weight but also marks the significant milestone of the 33rd SEA Games – where Coach Kim Sang Sik left a profound mark leading the “Golden Star Warriors” to the highest podium.

“The medal was handcrafted by skilled artisans, engraved with many cultural symbols from both Vietnam and Korea such as the two nations’ flags, Vietnamese bamboo, conical hats, chrysanthemums, and the Korean royal palace… reflecting the friendship and special bond between Coach Kim Sang Sik and Vietnamese football,” Daum wrote.

“Notably, the image of the Vietnamese and Korean national flags engraved side by side on the medal symbolizes the strong sports and diplomatic cooperation between the two countries, as well as the close relationship between the Korean coaching staff and young Vietnamese players”, Daum added.

After the success at SEA Games 33, Coach Kim Sang Sik made history in Southeast Asian football by becoming the first coach to achieve a “hat-trick” of the region’s biggest tournaments in one year. He will have the chance to further improve his record at the U23 Asian Championship finals held in Saudi Arabia in January 2026.

Vietnam’s best achievement in this tournament was runner-up under Coach Park Hang Seo in 2018. This is the next goal that Coach Kim Sang Sik and Vietnamese football are aiming for after conquering all regional Southeast Asian competitions.