Korean Badminton Duo Misses All England Open Amidst Team Dynamics
One of South Korea’s leading women’s doubles teams will be absent from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) 2026 All England Open, a tournament with a 127-year tradition.
Absence from Prestigious Tournament
The pairing of Kong Hee-yong (Jeonbuk Bank) and Kim Hye-jeong (Samsung Life Insurance), currently ranked 5th in the world in women’s doubles, will not participate in the competition. The All England Open is scheduled to grab place at the Utility Arena in Birmingham, England, starting March 3rd.
Despite being a top 10 doubles team, and the BWF’s mandatory participation rule for Super 1000 competitions (requiring ranked players 1-15 in singles and 1-10 in doubles to participate in four Super 1000 and six Super 750 events, with exceptions only for documented injuries), the duo announced their non-participation.
Recent Team Adjustments
The pair previously faced disruption during the Asian Men’s and Women’s Team Championships in Qingdao, China, earlier this month. They competed in the first match against Singapore but were absent from the second.
This followed a situation where last year’s BWF World Tour Finals winners, Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee, took a break during the first round of the Asian Team Championships. Subsequently, coach Park Joo-bong paired Baek Ha-na with Kim Hye-jeong for the match against Chinese Taipei, a change necessitated by an injury to Lee So-hee.
The team of Baek Hana and Kim Hye-jung continued to play all remaining matches of the Asian Team Championship, ultimately contributing to the Korean women’s badminton team winning the women’s team event and qualifying for the Uber Cup.
Novel Pairings for All England Open
For the upcoming All England Open, the team of Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee will compete. Lee Yeon-woo (Samsung Life Insurance) and Lee Seo-jin (Incheon International Airport) will similarly participate, but Kong Hee-yong and Kim Hye-jeong will not.
Kong Hee-yong and Kim Hye-jeong had a successful 2025 season, achieving a 77.8% win rate with 49 wins and 14 losses. They won four tournaments – the Singapore Open, Korea Open, Indonesia Masters, and Orleans Masters – and were runners-up in the Sudirman Cup, Denmark Open, India Open, and China Masters. Their performance in the Malaysia Open and India Open this year saw them eliminated in the second round.
Photo = Yonhap News / Badminton AsiaXports News Reporter Kim Jeong-hyeon
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why are Kong Hee-yong and Kim Hye-jeong missing the All England Open? They have announced their non-participation, despite the BWF’s mandatory participation rules, with no specific reason given.
- Who will represent South Korea in women’s doubles at the All England Open? Baek Ha-na and Lee So-hee, and Lee Yeon-woo and Lee Seo-jin will compete.
- What were Kong Hee-yong and Kim Hye-jeong’s accomplishments in 2025? They achieved a 77.8% win rate and won four tournaments.
The shifting dynamics within the South Korean badminton team highlight the competitive landscape and the challenges faced by top athletes as they navigate team strategies and individual performance expectations.