President Lee Jae-myung. Yonhap News
President Lee Jae-myung left words of encouragement to Korean badminton players who finished 2025 with a bang.
On the 21st, President Lee said through social networking service (SNS) that Korean badminton players swept the championship at the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025, the last tournament of the year, saying, “The whole world is expressing wonder and praise for the achievements of our players,” and “I cannot be more proud.”
Ahn Se-young is roaring after defeating Wang Ziyi to win the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 held in Hangzhou, China on the 21st. Hangzhou | Shinhwa Yonhap News
President Lee expressed his emotions, saying, “It would not be an exaggeration to say that 2025 is the ‘Year of Badminton in Korea.’” He added, “The national anthem rang out three times in Hangzhou, China. My heart is full.”
Korean badminton achieved its best performance in the finals, which ended on the 21st. Women’s doubles’ Baek Hana and Lee So-hee (Incheon International Airport) won the championship by defeating Japan’s Yuki Fukushima and Mayu Matsumoto 2-0 (21-17 21-11), and ‘Shuttlecock Empress’ Ahn Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance) also limped as if she injured her left thigh against Wang Ziyi (China), but did not give up until the end and won 2-1 (21-13 18-21). 21-10) and won the championship. And the ‘golden duo’ Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae (Samsung Life Insurance) also defeated China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang 2-0 (21-18 21-14) to ascend to the top.
Baek Hana (right) and Lee Sohee are taking a commemorative photo after winning the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 held in Hangzhou, China on the 21st. Hangzhou | AFP Yonhap News
With this win, Se-young Ahn lifted the 11th championship trophy of the season, tying the record for most wins in a season for both men and women. In addition, this year, he achieved an incredible record of 73 wins and 4 losses, achieving the highest winning percentage ever for a singles player, 94.8%. In addition to the $240,000 prize money from the tournament, he recorded a season total of $1,003,175, making him the first badminton player to surpass $1 million in season prize money.
President Lee said, “There must have been countless sweat, tears, and fierce battles with oneself to get to this point,” and added, “I hope that for today, you can let go of all your burdens and enjoy the joy of victory to your heart’s content.”
Kim Won-ho (left) and Seo Seung-jae are celebrating after winning the Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Finals 2025 held in Hangzhou, China on the 21st. Hangzhou | Shinhwa Yonhap News
