The South Korean Asian Games team held a launch ceremony and reiterated their goal to rank second or better in the medal count in the Asiad, set to kick off on September 19.

The athletes pledged their best efforts to achieve the goal at the ceremony held at the Olympic Park in Seoul Thursday. Prime Minister Chung Hong-won and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Jong-deok were also in attendance.

Four-hundred-thirty-nine gold medals in 36 events will be up for grabs in the port city of Incheon, and the South Korean team aims to claim more than 90 gold medals and rank at least second for the fifth straight games.

All of 45 members of Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), including North Korea, will participate in the 16-day Asiad.