"Dare to Ruffle the Lion's Mane?" Fired-Up Heo Su-bong and Lim Dong-hyeok Blast 34 Points as South Korea Beats Taiwan 3-1 to Reach Quarterfinals First [2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya]

[Financial News]  The price Taiwan paid for daring to ruffle a sleeping lion's mane was brutally steep. South Korea's men's volleyball team briefly stumbled after dropping the first set, but it immediately unleashed a merciless barrage that reduced Taiwan's court to rubble.
South Korea men's national volleyball team, led by head coach Issanaye Ramires and ranked 25th in the world, defeated Taiwan, ranked 55th, 3-1 (24-26, 25-10, 25-15, 25-23) in a thrilling comeback victory in the second match of Group D in the men's volleyball group stage at the 2026 Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya. The match was held on the 28th at Park Arena Komaki in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
After easily sweeping the Philippines 3-0 the previous day, South Korea also overcame Taiwan to race to two straight group-stage wins and six points. The result secured its place in the quarterfinals early as the group leader.
The match was a roller-coaster ride. In the first set, South Korea's reception faltered, and it wastefully surrendered the set 24-26 after a tense deuce battle. It was a nerve-racking moment, especially given the team's overwhelming advantage on paper.
But after taking that blow, the Taegeuk Warriors' eyes turned fierce from the second set onward. South Korea tore Taiwan's reception line apart with vicious serves. With its normal attack routes completely shut down, Taiwan fell like leaves in the wind. South Korea won the second set 25-10 and the third 25-15, allowing Taiwan just 25 points across the two sets—a rare display in volleyball that amounted to pure garbage time.

Taiwan did not go quietly. In the fourth set, with its back against the wall, South Korea faced fierce resistance and fell behind 21-22 late in the set. But when the match entered its most important clutch moment, South Korea had its problem-solvers.
Ace Heo Su-bong of Hyundai Capital Services tied the score at 22-22 with a heavy attack. Sang-Hyeon Lee then delivered a crucial block to complete the turnaround at 23-22. South Korea briefly wavered after Heo committed a service error, but Lim Dong-hyeok of Korean Air drilled home a stinging point to reach match point. The team then induced an opponent's error to finally put an end to the long contest.
The main architects of the victory were undoubtedly the twin cannons on the left and right, Heo Su-bong and Lim Dong-hyeok. Heo exploded for a match-high 18 points, while Lim contributed 16. The two wings combined for 34 points to dismantle Taiwan's defense.
The Ramires-led team, targeting its first Asian Games medal in eight years, now turns its attention to China, the 'Great Wall.' South Korea and China have both won twice, but South Korea leads on points, 6-5. The teams will play an unavoidable final match for first place in the group at the same venue on the 29th.
If South Korea defeats China and finishes first in Group D, it will face the runner-up from Group B—comprising Iran, Thailand, Indonesia and Kyrgyzstan—in the quarterfinals, making the road to a medal considerably easier. Given the momentum of South Korean volleyball, which repaid the shock of the first set with 'insane firepower,' defeating China is by no means a dream.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter