Why are Lee Yo-seb and Park Kwang-soon confident about Korea’s chances at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

Lee said Korea has an edge in organization and speed over Middle East teams, and he believes the squad has worked harder and blended individual strengths into a strong team. Park said he wants to play with responsibility and get good vibes from his hometown of Jincheon.

When did Korea last win men’s handball gold at the Asian Games, and who has dominated since then?

Korea last took the men’s handball title in 2010. Since then, Qatar has won the next three gold medals, while Bahrain has collected two silvers and one bronze.

What did Korea’s handball captain and debut players say about their Asian Games goals?

Captain Ha Min-ho said the team has been working on quick transition and that he wants to lead Korea back to the top of the Asian Games podium. Goalkeeper Park Jae-yong and right back Kim Yeon-bin said they want to make the most of their first Asian Games and aim for gold.

Men's handball players feeling confident vs. Middle East powers at Asian Games

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Summary

Two recent MVPs of the Korean men’s handball league said Wednesday that Korea is confident about beating Middle East powers at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this month. Lee Yo-seb and Park Kwang-soon will help lead Korea’s bid for its first men’s handball Asian Games gold in 16 years. Korea has not won the event since 2010, when Qatar began a run of three straight golds.

Key Facts

Lee Yo-seb is the reigning MVP, while Park Kwang-soon won the MVP award in 2021 and 2025.
Korea last won men’s handball gold at the Asian Games in 2010.
Qatar won the next three Asian Games gold medals after Korea’s 2010 victory, while Bahrain earned two silver medals and one bronze in that span.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 9, 2026 5:26 pm KST
Updated Sep 9, 2026 5:41 pm KST

Members of the Korean men's national handball team train for the Asian Games at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. Yonhap

Two recent MVPs of the Korean men's handball league both expressed confidence Wednesday that the national team will be able to beat Middle East powers en route to the gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games this month.

Lee Yo-seb, the reigning MVP, and Park Kwang-soon, the MVP winner in 2021 and 2025, will be at the forefront of Korea's pursuit of its first Asiad gold in men's handball in 16 years.

After Korea's gold in 2010, Qatar went on to win the next three gold medals, while Bahrain has grabbed two silver medals and one bronze medal over that same span. Korea's path to the podium will likely go through those rivals, and Lee, 28, said Korea will have an edge over them this time.

"In terms of organization and speed, I think we are better than those Middle East teams," Lee said at the national team's press conference at the Jincheon National Training Center in Jincheon, 85 kilometers south of Seoul. "Of course, they have become faster over the years and so beating them will not be easy for us. But I believe we have put in far more work than those teams. And we have done a great job of combining our individual strengths to build a strong team."

Park, who hails from Jincheon, said he has enjoyed preparing for the Asian Games right in his backyard.

"I want to represent the country with a sense of responsibility," he said. "In some earlier international competitions, I was often dealing with nagging injuries. This time, I want to get some good vibes from my hometown and play the best I can."

Team captain Ha Min-ho, 34, agreed with Lee that speed can be a game changer for Korea.

"We have been working on creating chances off quick transition," he said. "As captain, I will try to lead the team back to the top of the Asian Games podium. We have some really talented young players here, and I learn a great deal from them during training. I want them to compete to the best of their abilities at the Asian Games."

Goalkeeper Park Jae-yong and right back Kim Yeon-bin said they want to make the most of their Asian Games debut in Japan.

"Since this will be my first Asian Games, I will try to give extra effort at every chance," Kim said. "I want to go for the gold medal."

Park added: "We will try to show how hard we have worked on the court and win as much as we can."

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