In her speech in front of some 80 Korean middle schoolers, she emphasized equal rights for both genders in enjoying sports and called on girls to learn teamwork, rules and how to relieve stress through physical activity.

Also, she said she was sure that everyone was looking forward to the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games and that the global sports event would offer all an amazing opportunity to help "bring the world together" through the love of sports.

After the speech, she watched some of the students play ice hockey while at one point placing her arm around a girl's shoulder who was sitting next to her and talking to the girl. Before she left the event, she took group photos with the students and shook hands with everyone in the first row.

The event was also attended by senior government officials including Chung Hyun-back, minister of gender equality, and Roh Tae-gang, vice minister of culture, sports and tourism as well as Lee Hee-beom, chief of the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. Lee gave her a stuffed tiger Soohorang, one of the mascots of the Olympics. (Yonhap)