President Lee Myung-bak says he hopes the national team’s performance in the upcoming Guangzhou Asian Games will boost the morale of South Koreans.

The president encouraged the athletes during a visit he made to the national training center in Taereung on Thursday morning.

Lee stopped to meet with swimming star Park Tae-hwan and record-setting weightlifter Jang Mi-ran, asking them to do their best to bring home victories from Guangzhou.

The president, who served 15 years as a chairman of the Korea Swimming Federation, said he expects the South Korean team will surprise the nation with its performance.