Team profile

Korea Click here to download Team Profile in pdf format

The Korean national men’s team has had a rather inconsistent time of it in international Volleyball over the past 40 years.

The Asian nation has participated in the Olympic Games eight times since 1964 with a best finish of fifth at Los Angeles in 1984 but closer to home they won the gold medal twice at the Asian Games - in 1978 in Bangkok and in 2002 in Busan and took home gold at the Asian Senior Men’s Volleyball Championship in 1989, 1993 and 2001.

As for the World Cup, fifth place in 1991 has been their best result.

With these results in mind the Korean Volleyball Association selected taller and younger players to try and gain some equality at the net against their taller opponents with an eye on preparing for the 2004 Olympic Games.

Already the blocking component of Korea's game has improved with a newcomer in Jae-Han Park performing admirably while young setter Young-Min Kwon is expected to strengthen the team’s competitiveness and experienced team captain Tae-Woong Choi leads the team with an aim to see Korea's world ranking imrpove from 15.

Recent records

Asian Men's Challenge Cup - Leg Two in Chinese Taipei (September) finished third

Korea beat Chinese Taipei 3-0 (27-25, 25-19, 25-15)
Korea beat Japan 3-0 (25-20, 32-30, 25-23)
Korea lost to China 3-0 (25-8, 25-21, 25-22)

Asian Men's Challenge Cup - Leg One in China (September) finished first

Korea beat China 3-1 (16-25, 25-19, 26-24, 25-23)
Korea beat Japan 3-2 (25-20, 25-21, 19-25, 19-25, 16-18)
Korea beat Chinese Taipei 3-1 (20-25, 25-13, 25-20, 25-21)

Asian Men's Volleyball Championship in China (September) finished first

Final: Korea beat China 3-2 (27-25, 22-25, 21-25, 25-21, 15-8)
Korea beat Australia 3-1 (16-25, 25-19, 25-19, 25-22)
Korea beat Japan 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 33-35, 26-24)
Korea beat Iran 3-0 (25-15, 25-18, 37-35)
Korea beat Bahrain 3-0 (25-12, 25-16, 25-16)
Korea beat Thailand 3-0 (25-17, 25-17, 25-17)
Korea lost to India 3-2 (23-25, 25-22, 20-25, 25-22, 17-15)

Asian Championship record

2003 - First, Tianjin
2001 - First, Changwon
1999 - Third, Tehran
1997 - Fifth, Doha
1995 - Third, Seoul
1993 - First, Nakorn Ratchasima
1991 - Second, Peru
1989 - First, Seoul
1987 - Third, Kuwait
1983 - Third, Japan
1979 - Third, Bahrain

World Cup record

1999 - Seventh
1995 - Eighth
1991 - Fifth
1989 - Seventh
1985 - Seventh
1981 -
1977 - Seventh

Other records

Men’s World Championship:
1998: 13th, Japan
1994: Eighth, Athens
1990: 14th, Rio de Janeiro
1982: Eighth, Buenos Aires
1978: Fourth, Rome
1974: 13th, Mexico City
1956: 18th, Paris

Olympic Games

2000: Ninth, Sydney
1996: 11th, Atlanta
1992: Ninth, Barcelona
1988: 11th, Seoul
1984: Fifth, L.A.
1976: Sixth, Montreal
1972: Seventh, Munich
1964: 10th, Tokyo