'The Host Nation Steps Up': Major Generational Shift as Taekwondo Team Kicks Off Medal Hunt at Asian Games

*This content was translated by AI.

The national taekwondo team begins its medal hunt with the pride of the "host nation" on the line.

The team will compete at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games (AG) from the 1st to the 3rd. The athletes departed for Japan in sequence, starting with the poomsae team on September 28 and followed by the sparring team on the 29th, completing their local adaptation and final match preparations.

According to the Korea Taekwondo Association, Korean taekwondo has undergone a major generational shift for this tournament. All athletes, except Kim Yu-jin (Ulsan Metropolitan City Sports Council), who competed at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, are making their first appearance at the Asian Games.

Ahn Hyang-sik (Yongin University) in the men's -58kg category will compete in both sparring and virtual taekwondo. Virtual taekwondo, newly adopted as an official event, is a non-contact competition where athletes face off against each other in a virtual space.

In poomsae, the performance of Yoon Gyu-seong (Army Personnel Command Army Military Band Corps Taekwondo Demonstration Team) is drawing attention. Currently serving in the military, Yoon Gyu-seong passed the national team selection despite limited training conditions. Jung Ha-eun (Yongin City Hall) will compete in women's poomsae, entering the medal race.

In sparring, 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Kim Yu-jin aims for her first Asian Games gold medal. Kim Yu-jin, who won a bronze medal in the women's -57kg category at the 2022 Hangzhou Games, stated her determination: "As this is my second Asian Games, I will return with a gold medal without regret, showing more mature and improved performance than when I first competed."

Kang Jae-gwon (Samsung ESWON Taekwondo Club) in the men's -80kg category will lead the team as the captain of the Lee Beon (CEO) team, while Lee Yu-min (Gwanak High School) in the women's -49kg category will step onto the Asian Games stage as the only high school student on the national team.

Athletes who have been maintaining an upward trend on the international stage are also drawing attention. Moon Jin-ho (Korea National Sport University) and Song Da-bin (Ulsan Metropolitan City Sports Council) each won gold medals at the 2026 Muju Grand Prix, while Kang Sang-hyeon (Ulsan Metropolitan City Sports Council) consecutively dominated the 2023 Baku World Taekwondo Championships and the 2025 Wushu World Taekwondo Championships. Gwak Min-ju (Korea National Sport University) also enters the medal race based on her international stage experience.

◇ October 1 Poomsae

Yoon Gyu-seong, Jung Ha-eun

◇ October 2 Virtual Taekwondo and Sparring

Ahn Hyang-sik (Virtual Taekwondo, M-58kg), Kang Jae-gwon (M-80kg), Lee Yu-min (W-49kg), Gwak Min-ju (W-67kg)

◇ October 3 Sparring

Moon Jin-ho (M-68kg), Kang Sang-hyeon (M+80kg), Kim Yu-jin (W-57kg), Song Da-bin (W+67kg)

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*This content was translated by AI.