The 2026 BWF World Tour Korea Open faces a player withdrawal crisis as injuries and fatigue mount late in the global badminton season, with top Korean and international contenders pulling out of the Super 500 tournament in Yeosu.
Player Withdrawals Hit Korea Open Lineup
Registration lists published on the Badminton World Federation website reveal that women’s singles national runner-up Kim Ga-eun and reigning world and Asian Games women’s doubles champions Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee have withdrawn from the tournament, scheduled for November 3 through 8. Kim captured the Korea Open title in 2024, while Baek and Lee finished third in both 2024 and 2025 before sweeping this season’s major championships.
Physical strain from the demanding international calendar forced the withdrawals despite the tournament taking place on home soil. Kim sustained a thigh injury during the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in September, forcing her to miss the women’s team semifinal against Japan. Meanwhile, Baek and Lee skipped both the Denmark Open and the French Open Super 750 events earlier this month after claiming the Asian Games individual gold medal, confirming they lacked the physical readiness required for international competitions.
International Stars Clear Out of Men’s Singles
The wave of withdrawals heavily impacts the men’s singles division. Defending champion Jonatan Christie of Indonesia, Asian Games gold medalist Kunlavut Vitidsarn of Thailand, Denmark Open runner-up Anders Antonsen, and Chinese competitor Shi Yuqi all removed their names from the entry list after initially registering for the event. It is clear that several players are exhausted by November.
An Se-young Status Draws Attention
South Korean fans now turn their attention to women’s singles star An Se-young, whose participation remains uncertain following her victory at the French Open on October 25, where she secured her third title at the tournament. An hinted at a possible withdrawal from the Korea Open despite high ticket demand that sold out 2,000 seats for the November 7 semifinals and November 8 finals immediately upon release. Other major names, including Japanese singles players Akane Yamaguchi and Tomoka Miyazaki, alongside Korean men’s doubles pair Seo Seung-jae and Kim Won-ho, remain on the entry lists as tournament preparations continue.
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