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Korea Open 2026: Badminton returns to Yeosu with title defence stats

The BWF World Tour event takes place in Yeosu from 3 to 8 November 2026 after a three-year absence.

By , Sports writer

· 2 min read

Badminton, general photo
Badminton (general photo, not from this event) Photo: anncapictures / Pixabay, Pixabay Content License

The Korea Open 2026 returns to Yeosu after three years. BWF reported key stats on title defences, host nation success and China's mixed doubles record.

Key takeaways

  • Korea Open 2026 runs from 3 to 8 November in Yeosu
  • Kim Hye Jeong and Seo Seung Jae are defending champions
  • Korea has won titles in 27 of 32 editions
  • China leads Korea 54 titles to 52

The Korea Open returns to the port city of Yeosu after a three-year absence as part of the HSBC BWF World Tour, running from 3 to 8 November 2026. The BWF categorises the Korea Open as one of seven BWF World Tour Super 500 events.

The tournament is commonly held in Seoul and used to be known as the Korea Open Super Series after becoming one of the BWF Super Series tournaments beginning in 2007.

Defending champions and top seeds

Chou Tien Chen (2018), An Se Young (2022, 2023) and Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae (2025) are the top seeds to have won their respective events. Seo also clinched men’s doubles in 2022 partnering Kang Min Hyuk.

Kim Won Ho/Seo Seung Jae and Akane Yamaguchi are the only ones back to defend their crowns. Kim Hye Jeong, women’s doubles champion last year with Kong Hee Yong, is in the draw with Lee Yeon Woo.

If she wins again, Hye Jeong will become the first player in tournament history to ace a doubles discipline with different partners in three consecutive years.

Host nation and historical records

Across the total 32 editions, hosts Korea failed to produce titlists at just five – 2006, 2012, 2014, 2017 and 2018. With 52 titles to their name, Korea are the sole nation this year that can overtake China (54) as the most successful team.

Korea are also one of three countries to taste glory in all five sectors, the other two being China and Indonesia. China have claimed at least one category every year since 2010.

Their dominance has been particularly evident in mixed doubles, where they have captured nine of the 14 titles contested since 2010 – a 64 per cent success rate. 1), Guo Xin Wa/Chen Fang Hui (2), Cheng Xing/Zhang Chi (3) and Zhu Yi Jun/Li Qian (7).

China, however, have not toasted men’s doubles winners since Cai Yun/Fu Haifeng triumphed in 2012.

Other nations and standout stat

Malaysia’s winning is confined to men’s singles and mixed doubles. This time, their hopes of adding men’s doubles to that list rest on recent French Open champions Man Wei Chong/Tee Kai Wun. Standout Stat: If she attains glory, An Se Young will become only the second women’s singles player to be champion thrice, 32 years after the legendary Bang Soo Hyun in 1994.

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