Ku Bonchan returns as Korea’s depth squeezes out Olympic gold medallists

Olympic gold medallists Lim Sihyeon and Lee Woo Seok have both missed out on the Korean national team for the 2026 outdoor season, as the country announced its recurve and compound squads on Friday 20 March.

Rio 2016 champion Bonchan Ku headlines a remarkable return to the international stage, while 14-year-old Kang Yeonseo earns a historic first selection.

“I honestly didn’t expect that I would be able to return to the national team,” said Bonchan. “I’m very happy to be back on the national team and I’m really enjoying training again.”

Selections were confirmed following the final of three selection rounds held at the Kim Sunyeong Archery Range in Cheongju from 16-20 March, with 16 archers selected across recurve and compound – four per gender.

This process is usually followed by two additional evaluation rounds to determine the final three archers set to compete at the upcoming Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit – and, this year, the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games – while a fourth athlete remains as reserve. However, the Korean federation has yet to confirm whether three or four archers will ultimately be selected for international competition this season.

Current Olympic recurve women’s champion Sihyeon – who also won mixed and women’s team gold in Paris 2024 – has been a mainstay for Korea over the past three years since first making the national team in 2023. She has collected 10 individual international medals in that time, alongside numerous team golds.

But even she could not make this year’s team, finishing 10th overall – underlining the depth of the Korean programme.

The results reflect a broader generational shift within Korean archery, with emerging athletes pushing established champions out of the line-up.

As the 22-year-old leaves the line-up for now, Jang Minhee returns four months after missing out on individual honours at the Dhaka 2025 Asian Archery Championships.

The 26-year-old finished top of the trials leaderboard and, although she is a former world champion – Yankton 2021 – it will remarkably be her first appearance on the Hyundai Archery World Cup circuit.

“There are some differences in how I feel now compared to back then,” said Jang when asked whether she feels she is fully back to her 2021 form. “At that time, I didn’t overthink or hesitate much when shooting. These days, I focus more on each individual shot and on myself. I think both approaches have their own advantages and disadvantages.”

Lee Woo Seok is another notable omission, with the Paris men’s individual bronze medallist also failing to make the top-four cut in recurve men.

In his place, Rio 2026 Olympic Champion Ku Bonchan makes a return after a 10-year absence from the international circuit, joining Kim Woojin and Kim Je Deok – the latter finishing first in the trials – alongside debutant Kim Seonwoo.

“I had been away for quite a long time, and there are so many strong competitors now, so I thought it would be difficult,” the 33-year-old said.

“Most of all, when I was previously on the national team, we trained at Taereung Training Center, but this is my first time at Jincheon National Training Center. The training environment, facilities and overall system here are excellent and very supportive for athletes.”

Another notable inclusion is 14-year-old compound women’s archer Kang Yeonseo, who becomes the first middle school student to be selected for the Korean national team.

“I still can’t believe it – it feels like a dream,” she said. “I didn’t even know I was the first middle school student to make the team. I just focused on each step in every match.”

The 32 selected athletes – eight per discipline and gender across recurve and compound – have already entered the Jincheon National Training Center to begin preparations for the 2026 season.

Final team selection will be decided following two additional evaluation rounds, scheduled for 30 March-3 April in Jeollabuk-do and 13-17 April in Yecheon. The Korean national team for international competition will be confirmed on 17 April.

Members of the national federation’s performance enhancement committee have also visited the training centre to offer support as the squad begins its preparations for the year ahead.

Images courtesy of Korea Archery Association.

Korean squads for 2026

• Recurve men: Kim Je Deok, Kim Woojin, Ku Bonchan, Kim Seonwoo
• Recurve women: Jang Minhee, Kang Chaeyoung, An San, Oh Yejin
• Compound men: Kim Kangmin, Kim Jongho, Lee Eun Ho, Choi Eun Gyu 
• Compound women: Park Jungyoon, Park Yerin, Kang Yeonseo, Park Riye