South Korean badminton has entered a new golden age in the 2020s. Led by world No. 1 An Se-young in women's singles and the world's top-ranked men's doubles pair of Kim Won-ho and Seo Seung-jae, both of Samsung Life Insurance, the country has been thriving in international competition across women's doubles and mixed doubles as well.
Men's singles has been a different story. While other disciplines drew the spotlight, no contender emerged capable of reaching world-class level, and Korea posted no notable results in international events.
That perception is now shifting with the arrival of one prospect. At just 23, he has beaten some of the world's best players in international tournaments and emerged almost overnight as the savior of Korean men's singles badminton. He is Yoo Tae-bin of Gimcheon City Hall, born in 2003.
"Playing consistently against higher-ranked players in international tournaments has improved the way I manage a match overall, and I think that is why the results are coming," Yoo said in a recent interview with Seoul Economic Daily.
Yoo first joined the national team last year. The selection came after coaching legend Park Joo-bong took the helm and sought to strengthen men's singles, long the Achilles' heel of Korean badminton.
Yoo cites his strengths as the powerful attacks he sends down from his 186-centimeter frame and a refusal to give up at any point in a match. Improving step by step at each tournament, he has become the hope of the men's singles discipline. Ranked 48th in the world, he confirmed his potential with back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Badminton World Federation's Taipei Open in July and the Victor Korea Masters in August. He also drew wide attention for his showmanship, performing soccer star Son Heung-min's camera celebration after victories.
"I'm a huge fan of Son Heung-min, and while thinking about what would make a good celebration after a win, I ended up doing the camera celebration," Yoo said. "I found out afterward that it had become a talking point, and it was surprising and amazing."
Yoo pointed to the Taipei Open as the turning point when he began producing results in international competition. In the semifinals he beat Lin Chun-yi of Taiwan, ranked 12th and backed by home advantage, 2-0, showing he could hold his own against the world's elite. "I was nervous before the match because he was a higher-ranked player, but once I faced him I was not outmatched at all," he said. "That match gave me the confidence that I can do this too."
Yoo's momentum was checked at the world championships in New Delhi last month. He lost decisively to Alwi Farhan of Indonesia, ranked 11th, in the first round and went home early. "Going through the world championships made me think that I still have a long way to go," Yoo said. "I learned a lot about match management from losing at a big tournament, so I will use it as medicine and show a different side of myself at the Asian Games."
Yoo begins his Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games campaign with the men's team event on the 21st. He will play first singles for the team, which is aiming to reclaim the title for the first time in 12 years. From the 25th he competes in men's singles, his main event, where he will pursue the first Asian Games gold medal by a Korean player in the discipline. Korea's best result in men's singles is the silver medal won by Lee Hyun-il, now a coach for the women's national team, at the 2002 Busan Games.
"I don't think I fall short of other players in terms of technique or fitness," Yoo said. "I want to stand on top in both events at the Asian Games and become the holder of that 'first' title."
