Who is Yang Seung-hye and why is she drawing attention at the Asian Games?

Yang Seung-hye is a 20-year-old member of the Korean women’s national epee fencing team. Thai media described her as looking like an AI-created character, but also praised her speed, precision, and team contributions.

What medals has the Korean women’s epee team won before Yang Seung-hye’s Asian Games debut?

The team won the team event at the FIE Women’s Epee World Cup in Saint-Maur in May. It then took gold at the Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi in June and bronze at the World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong in July.

When will Yang Seung-hye compete at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games?

She will compete in the women’s epee team event on Sept. 25 at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The Asian Games are her first appearance at the continental multisport event.

Meet Korean 'fencing idol' Yang Seung-hye whose looks drew AI comparison

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Summary

Thai media outlet Thairath Sport highlighted 20-year-old Yang Seung-hye of the Korean women’s national fencing team as the Asian Games opened in Aichi-Nagoya. The outlet praised her appearance and said her skills on the piste set her apart. Yang will make her first Asian Games appearance in the women’s epee team event on Sept. 25 in Tokoname, Japan. The article also noted her role in Korea’s recent team medals at the FIE Women’s Epee World Cup, the Asian Fencing Championships, and the World Fencing Championships.

Key Facts

Thairath Sport called Yang Seung-hye the youngest member of the Korean women’s epee national team at 20 years old.
The Korean women’s epee team won the team event at the FIE Women’s Epee World Cup in Saint-Maur, France, in May.
The team won gold at the Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi, India, in June and bronze at the World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong in July.
Yang Seung-hye will compete in the women’s epee team event on Sept. 25 at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

By Hankookilbo

Published Sep 22, 2026 3:40 pm KST

Photos of Korean women's national fencing team member Yang Seung-hye, 20, posted on Facebook by Thai media outlet Thairath Sport, Sunday. The outlet praised Yang not only for her appearance but also for her performance. Captured from Thairath Sport's Facebook account

“She's real, even though she looks like she was created by artificial intelligence (AI).”

This was how Thai media outlet Thairath Sport described 20-year-old Yang Seung-hye, a member of the Korean women's national fencing team, after the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games officially kicked off the previous day. The outlet praised not only her appearance but also her exceptional skills, highlighting the attention Yang, who is nicknamed a “fencing idol” in Korea, is receiving overseas.

Thairath Sport posted several photos of Yang on its official Facebook account on Sunday. The outlet introduced her as “the youngest member of the Korean women's epee national team at just 20 years old,” adding that she “has drawn the attention of sports fans with her outstanding skills and striking appearance and has been dubbed one of Korea's ‘fencing idols’ by the Korean media.”

The Thai outlet also praised Yang's performance on the piste. It noted that the Korean women's epee team won the team event at the International Fencing Federation (FIE) Women's Epee World Cup in Saint-Maur, France, in May. It also highlighted the team's gold medal in the team event at the Asian Fencing Championships in New Delhi, India, in June, and its bronze medal in the team event at the World Fencing Championships in Hong Kong in July, noting that “Yang Seung-hye played a role as a member of the team.”

Thairath Sport said that “judging by her appearance alone, Yang Seung-hye may look like a character created by AI,” but emphasized that “the moment she steps onto the piste, what proves who Yang Seung-hye is isn't her appearance, but the tip of her blade, along with her speed and precision.”

The Asian Games mark Yang's first appearance at the continental multisport event. She will compete in the women's epee team event on Sept. 25 at Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

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