South Korean curling is experiencing a meteoric rise, thanks in part to the country’s robust investment in the sport after the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. With the 2025 LGT World Women’s Curling Championship set to take place in Uijeongbu, Korea’s men’s and women’s curling teams are making waves on the international stage.
This year, the Korean women’s team earned a silver medal at the World Curling Championship, narrowly losing to Canada in a 6-5 finish. China took home the bronze with a 7-3 victory over Japan. Meanwhile, the men’s team made their mark by securing a spot for the 2025 championship with a dramatic 9-7 win over Australia.
The success of South Korea’s curling teams can be traced back to the 2018 Olympic Games, when the women’s team captured a historic silver medal. The squad, affectionately known as the “Garlic Girls,” sparked a surge of interest in the sport within Korea. As Lee Jaebeom, a representative from Korea’s curling community, explained to World Curling, the success of the 2018 women’s team, skipped by Kim Eunjung, set the stage for curling’s rapid growth.
“The Olympic silver medallists started things growing, and since then we’ve seen a lot of Korean teams spending time in Canada to improve their skills,” Lee said. “That success has really made curling more popular in the country.”
Grassroots development has also played a key role in the sport’s expansion. More schools across Korea are introducing curling, helping to nurture a new generation of curlers. This focus on youth development is vital for shaping players who can compete at the highest international levels.
Both the men’s and women’s teams now benefit from significant financial backing and training opportunities. Seol Yeji, a member of the women’s team, emphasized the importance of funding. “When a team becomes the national team, they get full support from the Olympic Committee and become full-time athletes. That support is secure, so we can focus on our training, spending months in Canada each year,” she said.
Lee further explained that this level of investment is a major advantage. “International participation by Korean teams is growing because they are fortunate to have more funding compared to other countries. This means most Korean curlers are full-time athletes.”
With the 2025 World Curling Championship just around the corner, the Korean teams are poised to make an even bigger impact. The event, taking place in Moose Jaw, Canada, will be a crucial one for the teams, with Olympic berths on the line.
“It’s an honour to be involved in our first world championship and to have a shot at qualifying for the Olympics,” Lee said. “We’re excited to represent our country and continue growing the sport of curling in Korea.”
As South Korea’s curling teams prepare for this high-stakes competition, they carry with them the hopes of a nation that has embraced the sport in the years since the 2018 Winter Olympics—poised to leave a lasting legacy on the world stage.