![[Kasugai (Japan) = Newsis] Kim Kum-bo — South Korea's Park Se-woong shoots in the first half of the men's handball quarterfinal between South Korea and China at the Kasugai Gymnasium in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, on the afternoon of Sept. 26 (local time) at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. 2026.09.26. kgb@newsis.com <Copyright ⓒ Newsis. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.> - Seoul Economic Daily Sports News from South Korea](https://wimg.sedaily.com/news/cms/2026/09/26/rcv.NEWSIS.NEWSIS.20260926.NISI20260926_0021458716_P1.jpg "Korea Beats China to Reach Handball Semifinals After 8 Years")
Led by head coach Cho Young-shin, the team defeated China 32-26 in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on the 26th at Kasugai Gymnasium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The win puts Korea in the semifinals for the first time since the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, where the team took bronze.
Korea will face the winner of the Qatar-Iran match at 5:30 p.m. on the 28th at Entrio in Inazawa, Aichi Prefecture, for a spot in the final. Qatar, which won three consecutive titles through the 2022 Hangzhou Games, is the likely opponent.
Tied 5-5 early in the first half, Korea pulled ahead 8-5 on a driving score by Kim Jin-young of the Armed Forces Athletic Corps and three straight goals from Jeon Jin-soo of Incheon Urban Development Corporation and Yeon Min-mo of Hanam City Hall.
Korea led 16-12 at the break and held the margin before breaking away late. With about five minutes left and the score at 27-22, Park Se-woong of SK Hawks scored twice from six meters and Kim Rak-chan of Incheon Urban Development Corporation added a nine-meter goal to push the lead to 30-22.
Kim Rak-chan and Park Se-woong led the attack with six goals each, while Kim Jin-young and Lee Yo-seph of Incheon Urban Development Corporation chipped in five apiece.
