Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae team./BWF
Seyoung Ahn./BWF
[마이데일리 = 김경현 기자] 2025 was the year of Korean badminton. Ahn Se-young rose to the top of the world in women’s singles. The combination of Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae also displayed performance comparable to that of Ahn Se-young, raising the country’s status.
On the 30th, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) looked back at Korean badminton in 2025 and highlighted the pair of Ahn Se-young, Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae.
Ahn Se-young was crowned GOAT (Greatest Of All Time). With his 11th win of the season, he tied the record for most wins in a single season with Kento Momota (Japan) in men’s singles in 2019. With a win rate of 94.8% (73/77), it surpassed Lin Dan (China) and Lee Chongwei (Malaysia)’s highest win rate in a single season (92.8%). The first prize money to exceed $1 million is a bonus.
Seyoung Ahn./BWF
‘BWF’ said, “If there was one story that defined badminton over the past 12 months, it was Ahn Se-young’s phenomenal season, which rewrote the record books and captured the imagination of fans around the world. Out of the 15 competitions she participated in, Ahn Se-young reached the finals a whopping 12 times and lifted the trophy in all finals except one.”
He continued, “Ahn Se-young’s fantastic form has led to another milestone. She is the first player to exceed $1 million in prize money in a single year, proving how consistency at the top level can lead to huge profits.”
Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae team./BWF
Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae also had a beautiful season. ‘BWF’ explained, “While Ahn Se-young was making headlines in singles, Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae were writing their own great chapter. After reuniting in early 2025, Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae immediately ascended to the elite ranks. The two players have an incredible understanding of each other’s strengths, and by combining explosive offense, solid defense, and clever shot selection, they destroyed even experienced opponents.”
He continued, “Their perseverance paid off brilliantly. By the time they reached the World Tour Finals, the pair had already amassed 10 titles. In the Hangzhou finals, they achieved their 11th title with a landslide victory over Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang, and recorded the best men’s doubles season with the most wins in a single season, surpassing the 10 wins set by the Chinese icon Li Yongbo and Tianbing in 1988.”
‘BWF’ praised the team of Won-ho Kim and Seung-jae Seo, saying, “As 2025 draws to a close, fans and commentators will be analyzing these achievements for years to come. A season that showed such sustained excellence will be difficult to repeat in the near future.”
Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae team./BWF
Meanwhile, Seo Seung-jae set a new record for the most wins in a single season. He won the Thailand Masters with Jin Yong and lifted the trophy 12 times this season alone. ‘BWF’ said, “This was a personal milestone that is rarely matched, and the most wins any player has ever recorded in a season on the HSBC BWF World Tour.”
Reporter Kim Kyung-hyeon kij4457@mydaily.co.kr
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