Korea chooses 2025 national squads with more selections to come
Seo Mingi and Lim Sihyeon topped the Korean recurve selection trials in March, as multiple Olympic gold medallists advanced to the final phase of the process. The candidates had to battle snowstorms during the five-day shoot in Jeonbuk, Korea.
Lim, the reigning Olympic Champion, has consistently been the most in-form Korean woman of the past year. The 23-year-old Seo is less well-known internationally but made the team last year and won the individual gold medal at the Chengdu 2021 Summer World University Games.
“It feels great to be in the top eight after last year,” said Seo. “I think I was lucky to get first place because the weather was not favourable during the trials, and it affected other archers.”
“I feel like I will be able to make it to the final three if I believe in myself.”
Eight Olympic gold medallists from the last two Games made the final lists this year: Lim, Nam Suhyeon, Kang Chaeyoung, An San, Jang Minhee, Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin and Lee Woo Seok.
All the recurve athletes at last year’s Paris 2024 Olympic Games have returned to the squad, except for Jeon Hunyoung, who was eliminated earlier in the week.
The compound lists were topped by So Chaewon and veteran Choi Yonghee, who also highlighted the difficult conditions encountered during the trials.
“It was so windy that it was hard to aim, but it’s great to be in first place,” said the 40-year-old, who made his international debut in 2003.
“I’m relatively older than the other archers in Korea, but I always try to manage myself so that I can continue to compete with the younger players.”
As usual, the Korean selection process chooses eight men and women in both recurve and compound.
This is followed by further selections of athletes to decide the ‘A’ and ‘B’ squads for the year, with the A squad usually contesting major international events, including the Hyundai Archery World Cup.
The next five-day trial will take place starting on 31 March in Yecheon.
Images and quotes courtesy of Kim Wonsik.
Korean squads for 2025
- Recurve men: Seo Mingi, Kim Woojin, Kim Je Deok, Lee Woo Seok, Jang Chaehwan, Jang Jiho, Kim Yechan and Lee Seungyoon.
- Recurve women: Lim Sihyeon, Lee Gahyun, Kang Chaeyoung, An San, Kim Surin, Jang Minhee, Nam Suhyeon and Park Eunseo.
- Compound men: Choi Yonghee, Choi Eunkyu, Yang Jaewon, Kang Donghyeon, Kim Soohong, Kim Jongho, Park Seunghyun and Lee Eun Ho.
- Compound women: So Chaewon, Yoo Heeyeon, Han Seungyeon, Sim Sooin, Kim Sooyeon, Park Yerin, Park Jungyoon and Moon Ye Eun.
