SEOUL (Yonhap) — The South Korean mixed medley relay team of Ji Yoo-chan (20, Daegu Metropolitan Government), Yang Jae-hoon (25, Gangwon Provincial Government), Heo Yeon-kyung (17, Bangsango) and Jung So-eun (27, Ulsan Metropolitan Government) set a new South Korean record in the 400-meter freestyle relay.South Korea finished the 400-meter medley relay in 3 minutes, 27.99 seconds during the qualifying round of the 2023 World Aquatics Championships at Fukuoka Marine Messe Fukuoka Hall in Fukuoka, Japan, on Monday.The time was 1.36 seconds faster than the previous Korean record of 3:29.35 set by Hwang Sun-woo, Lee Yoo-yeon, Jung So-eun and Heo Yeon-kyung at last year’s World Championships in Budapest.Korea Swimming also saw an “overall increase in strength” at the Games, with the men’s 800-meter freestyle relay sportstotozonecom (7:04.07), mixed medley relay (3:47.09), and mixed freestyle relay (400 meters) all setting new Korean records.However, they did not make the final in the 400-meter medley relay. South Korea finished 13th out of 43 teams in that event. There are no semifinals in the 400-meter medley relay, with the top eight qualifiers advancing directly to the final.At last year’s Games, Korea finished 11th in the event. At this year’s Games, the Koreans improved their time by 1.36 seconds, but dropped two spots in the rankings.”I didn’t achieve my personal goal of breaking into the 48s (actual time 49.11), but it feels good to have a good performance with the Korean record,” said Ji Yoo-chan.Yang Jae-hoon, who set a second Korean record in the men’s 800-meter freestyle relay, said, “I’m happy that we also set a Korean record in the 400-meter medley relay.” “I want to do better at the Hangzhou Asian Games,” he added.”I always feel a lot of pressure and responsibility to do well in team events, but it’s nice to have a good performance with my older sisters and brothers,” said Heo Yeon-kyung, the youngest member of the team. “I hope to do my part in the final event, the 400-meter medley relay tomorrow (Aug. 30) and set a Korean record.””I’m the oldest of the younger swimmers, and I was under pressure to swim the relay right after my individual event (50-meter freestyle), but the younger swimmers in front of me did a great job, so I was able to push myself harder,” said Jung So-eun. “I want to focus more on the remaining 60 days until the Asian Games and have a good result in Hangzhou.”They will receive the Korean record team prize money (2 million won – 500,000 won per athlete).