Nagoya to Play Korean National Anthem on Repeat... World Stunned as Korean Badminton Secures Unrivaled Dominance

[Financial News] The center of the badminton world has fully shifted to the Republic of Korea (ROK). Neither the formidable Great Wall nor the world’s top-ranked players could halt the golden era of Korean badminton. The ROK national badminton team concluded 2025 with a spectacular finale, casting a bright outlook for gold at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya.
Under the leadership of head coach Park Joo-bong, the national team dominated three out of five events (women’s singles, men’s doubles, and women’s doubles) at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025, which concluded on the 21st in Hangzhou, China. This is the first time in the 42-year history of the tournament, since its inception in 1983, that Korea has swept three categories. The achievement is even more remarkable as it was accomplished in Hangzhou, China.


The undisputed leader of this ‘Hangzhou triumph’ was An Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance). In the women’s singles final, An overcame China’s Wang Zhiyi 2-1 to claim her 11th title of the season. This ties the record for most singles titles in a season set by Kento Momota of Japan in 2019. An Se-young posted a phenomenal record of 73 wins and 4 losses out of 77 matches this season, with a win rate of 94.8%. She also became the first player in badminton history to surpass $1 million (approximately 1.48 billion KRW) in prize money in a single season.
Wang Zhiyi, who faced An Se-young in the final, suffered her eighth consecutive defeat to An this season. Wang’s tears after the match reflected the sense of despair felt by top players worldwide when facing An Se-young, who has become an insurmountable barrier.
However, immediately after her victory, An Se-young remarked, “My prime has not yet arrived. I will reach my peak when I deliver a perfect performance,” pushing herself to even greater heights.
An Se-young’s dominance is not the only highlight. The men’s doubles pair of Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho (Samsung Life Insurance) have also established themselves as Korea’s surest ‘winning card.’ Reunited this January after seven years, they claimed the world No. 1 ranking in less than a year. With this tournament victory, they too achieved 11 titles this season, solidifying their status as the top men’s doubles team. Experts say they are worthy successors to the golden lineage of Korean men’s doubles, following in the footsteps of Park Joo-bong/Kim Moon-soo and Kim Dong-moon/Ha Tae-kwon.


The women’s doubles team is equally formidable. Lee So-hee (Incheon International Airport) and Baek Ha-na (Korea Federation of Community Credit Cooperatives) secured their second consecutive title at this tournament, proving their status as true champions. Their consistent performance throughout the season, defeating top-ranked opponents, demonstrates that Korean badminton’s strength now lies in its deep and talented roster, not just a few star players.
Now, Korean badminton sets its sights on Japan in 2026. The Asian Championships in Ningbo, China next April represent the final piece of the puzzle for An Se-young’s quest for a Grand Slam (Olympics, World Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Championships). Furthermore, the Asian Games in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya this September will be the stage to reaffirm the achievements made in Hangzhou.
If An Se-young secures a second consecutive Asian Games title, it will mark a first in Korean badminton singles history—an achievement even the legendary Bang Soo-hyun did not accomplish. Seo Seung-jae/Kim Won-ho and the women’s doubles team are also aiming for gold at the Asian Games.
Head coach Park Joo-bong credited the athletes, stating, “The players’ exceptional skills and a stable training environment have led to results beyond expectations.”
This is not a fleeting success at a single tournament, but a season-long domination that proves the triumph of Korea’s badminton system. Having overcome the Great Wall, the power of Korea’s shuttlecock is now aimed squarely at Japan. Korean badminton is currently enjoying its brightest and most undeniable golden era.


jsi@fnnews.com Jeon Sang-il Reporter