Won Yunjong and Seo Youngwoo made history when they became the first South Koreans to win the bobsleigh World Cup ©Getty Images

South Korea's President President Park Geun-hye has congratulated the country's sliding athletes following their success in this season's International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup series.

Won Yunjong and Seo Youngwoo became the first Asian sliders to win an IBSF World Cup overall title with victory in the two-man bobsleigh season finale at Königssee in Germany last Saturday (February 27).

It followed the performance of another South Korean, Yun Sung-bin, winner of a silver medal in the skeleton at the World Championships in Igls, the country's first-ever at the event. 

It was a remarkable achievement considering he had taken up the sport less than four years ago. 

The performances have marked them out as potential medallists when South Korea hosts the Winter Olympics for the first time at Pyeongchang in 2018.

The South Koreans have made remarkable since Sochi 2014 when Won and Seo finished 18th and Yun 16th. 

"I am so happy with the way our season has gone, and it still hasn't hit me yet," Won told reporters when he arrived back from Germany at Incheon International Airport today.

"Before the start of the season, we received key information on tracks around the world.

"We will start planning for the next season and gearing towards the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, too."

Yun Sung-bin became the first South Korean to win a medal at the skeleton World Championships when he finished second in Igls less than four years after taking up the sport ©Getty Images
Yun Sung-bin became the first South Korean to win a medal at the skeleton World Championships when he finished second in Igls less than four years after taking up the sport ©Getty Images

The first Korean to take part in a sliding event at the Olympics was Kang Kwang-bee.

He competed in the luge at Nagano 1998.

Kang then represented Korea in the skeleton at Salt Lake City 2002 and Turin 2006 and the four-man bobsleigh at Vancouver 2010.

He recruited Yun to skeleton while he was in the final year of high school. 

"To become a great athlete, one should learn to clear is mind," Kang told the Korea Times. 

"When Yun is on a sled he focuses entirely on the race with simplicity and guts.

"I knew he had all the potential to become a big-name athlete."

Yun also finished second overall in the skeleton World Cup behind Lativa's Martins Dukurs, winner of seven of the eight races in the series and who has claimed the world title four times.

"Last season, I didn't think I could even get close to Dukurs," Yun told Yonhap News. 

"But I don't feel that way anymore.

"I think I'll be able to keep closing in on him.

"I did much better than I'd expected.

"But I still have a long way to go. If I can keep improving for Pyeongchang, I think I'll be able to smile two years later."