The South Korea men's volleyball national team secured the East Asian Championship after overpowering Taiwan with a resounding 3-0 (25-22, 25-22, 25-16) victory in the final match held on August 23 in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province, China.

Throughout this year's tournament, the national team, guided by head coach Isanaye Ramírez, advanced from Group A with two consecutive wins, booking their place in the semifinals. There, they dispatched Hong Kong 3-1 to reach the championship match.

South Korea set the pace from the outset in the final, capitalizing on the explosive attacking prowess of Heo Su-bong of Hyundai Capital and Im Dong-hyeok from the military sports unit. In the opening set, back-to-back points from Im Dong-hyeok and Heo Su-bong lifted South Korea’s performance, while Park Chang-seong of OK Financial Group sealed the set with a crucial service ace followed by a decisive attack at 23-22.

The momentum continued in the second set. After taking an early 6-3 lead, the team maintained their advantage throughout. Kim Ji-han of Woori Card delivered a powerful straight attack at 23-20 to earn set point, before Cha Young-seok of KB Insurance placed a precise shot into a gap in Taiwan's court at 24-22 to clinch the set.

In the third and final set, South Korea broke away from a tight 7-6 lead by notching four consecutive points, widening the gap decisively. Im Dong-hyeok capped the victory with a powerful back attack, confirming the team’s straight-sets win and an undefeated championship run.

With this triumph, the South Korea men's volleyball team not only claimed the title among the six participating nations, but also achieved victory without dropping a single set, further cementing their status as regional powerhouses.

The national squad will take a brief rest upon returning home before resuming preparations for the World Championship, slated to take place in Manila, Philippines from September 12 to 28.

Meanwhile, in the third-place match, China overcame Hong Kong 3-1 to secure third place in the tournament.

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News