After sixteen years, the World Archery Championships returned to South Korea, this time in Gwangju. The 2025 championships saw delegations from 76 countries, totaling 731 participants (501 athletes, 230 officials), competing fiercely across ten recurve and compound events.

The South Korean national team reaffirmed its status as a global powerhouse, securing overall first place with two gold, one silver, and four bronze medals. Yet, even amidst applause, there lingered a sense of disappointment. The anticipation—both within the team and among fans—was sky-high, with many expecting South Korea to sweep all five recurve events.

This Gwangju championships marked a crucial turning point, starkly revealing the current reality and future direction of South Korean archery. Had Kang Chae-young failed to clinch a dramatic gold in the women’s recurve individual on the final day, the nation’s “homecoming celebration” could well have taken on a narrative of crisis.

Despite finishing atop the medal tally, the verdict from some corners has been “half success, half failure.” This stems from a national expectation forged by decades of dominance: South Korea is not just an archery leader, but the unrivaled champion.

No Longer a League of Our Own

The defining feature of this year’s championships was irrefutable proof that global archery’s competitive level has truly evened out. Whereas recurve once was Korea’s exclusive stage, Spain claimed gold in both the mixed team and men’s individual events, with Japan adding one silver and two bronzes to its growing record.

This seismic shift was no surprise. South Korea’s decades-old training systems and expertise are no longer closely-guarded secrets. Training methods, now widely shared and disseminated through media, have become textbooks for athletes worldwide. Moreover, the recruitment of South Korean coaches overseas has supercharged global talent development. Where competitors once feared South Korea, these days they stand on the line as confident equals, ready for a fair fight.

Kang Chae-young herself has said, “Winning gold medals isn’t easy anymore.” The era is here where victory is no longer delivered by an opponent’s misstep, but only by perfect performance on one’s own part.

Mature Perspectives: Enjoying the Sport Beyond Win or Lose

In this new reality, a fundamental question is raised about how South Koreans view archery: How long must we cling to the old dichotomy of “gold or failure”?

While the athletes’ tenacity and drive for victory deserve admiration, and the public understandably longs for their triumphs, archery is a sport where a single arrow or single point can determine the outcome. Expecting total domination in every event can become a source of crushing pressure for the athletes.

It is time, perhaps, to move beyond medal counts and cultivate a culture that appreciates the thrill of global competition itself. The determination shown by Choi Yong-hee, who rebounded from an early exit to win bronze, and the inspiring effort put forth by Kim Woo-jin and An San in their silver-medal shoot-off, both merit standing ovations.

Rather than interpreting Spain’s and Japan’s rise as a crisis for South Korean archery, this should be welcomed as a positive sign of growth and excitement for the sport worldwide.

New Possibilities in Gwangju – Democracy, Human Rights, Peace

Fortunately, this year’s championships in Gwangju demonstrated such possibilities for change. Finals held at the May 18 Democracy Square transcended sport, sharing the values of democracy, human rights, and peace with the world. The tournament, which wove together tourism, culture, and sports, with enthusiastic participation from citizens, proved that “victory” is not the only value in sports.

According to Vice President Jang Young-sool of the Korea Archery Association, the pursuit of “zero defects” must continue. South Korean athletes will now prepare with even greater precision for the Los Angeles Olympics. As they do, fans would do well to become steadfast supporters, not demanding gold at any cost, but recognizing and encouraging the athletes’ commitment and journey.

The crown of “world’s strongest” is a source of pride, but it can also be a weight. By setting some of that weight aside and embracing archery as a festival for all, South Korea can present itself on the world stage with even greater strength and maturity.

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

Photo=Yonhap News Agency