Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae Clinch Gold as Korea Shines at World Badminton Championships

The Korean national badminton team captured one gold medal and one bronze at the 2025 BWF World Championships, which concluded on September 1 at adidas Arena in Paris, France.

In a commanding performance, the world’s top-ranked men’s doubles pair, Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, defeated China’s Chen Boyang and Liu Yi in straight sets, 2-0 (21-17, 21-12), to claim the prestigious title.

Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, who reunited as a team only this January after a seven-year hiatus, ascended to world number one in just seven months. Following victories at the Malaysia Open, All England Open, and Indonesia Open, the duo added a fourth major championship to their burgeoning legacy with this latest triumph.

Seo Seung-jae, who also won the event last year with Kang Min-hyuk, achieved back-to-back world titles in men’s doubles—continuing Korea’s proud tradition established by iconic duos such as Park Joo-bong and Kim Moon-soo, Kim Dong-moon and Ha Tae-kwon, and Lee Yong-dae and Jung Jae-sung.

In women’s singles, An Se-young fought valiantly but fell to Chen Yufei in the semifinals, losing 0-2 (15-21, 17-21). With this result, An Se-young’s career head-to-head against Chen Yufei stands at 13 wins and 14 losses, and she brings home the bronze.

Korea’s haul at this year’s championships did not match the impressive triple golds of 2023. Last year, An Se-young won the women’s singles, Seo Seung-jae and Kang Min-hyuk claimed men’s doubles gold, and Seo Seung-jae partnered with Chae Yoo-jung for the mixed doubles title, with additional success in women’s doubles earning a bronze.

This year, only Kim Won-ho, Seo Seung-jae, and An Se-young reached the semifinals. Mixed doubles pair Chae Yoo-jung and Lee Jong-min and men’s doubles duo Kim Ki-jung and Kim Sa-rang exited in the round of 32. Lee So-hee and Baek Ha-na lost in the women’s doubles round of 16, while Kong Hee-yong and Kim Hye-jeong exited in the quarterfinals. In women’s singles, Kim Ga-eun bowed out in the round of 32, with Shim Yu-jin making the quarterfinals. Men’s singles competitors Kim Byeong-jae and Jeon Hyuk-jin concluded their runs in the round of 32 and round of 16, respectively.

The World Badminton Championships, established in 1977, is one of the sport’s most prestigious international competitions. Since 2005, it has been held annually except during Olympic years.

The Korean delegation is scheduled to return home on September 2.

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