South Korean badminton pair Kim Yu-jung and Lee Yu-rim secured a dramatic 2-1 comeback victory over China’s Li Yijing and Wang Yiduo on November 6, 2026, advancing to the women’s doubles semifinals at the BWF World Tour Korea Open in Yeosu.
Kim and Lee Reach First Home Soil Semifinal
- Ranking Momentum: World No. 31 Kim and Lee continue to climb BWF rankings following back-to-back Super 750 sixteenth-round appearances in Europe last month.
- Tournament Breakthrough: This marks the first time the Samsung Life Insurance pairing has reached a Super 500 semifinal round on home soil.
Overcoming the Chinese Challenge at Jinnam Gymnasium
Xportsnews reported that the eighth-round clash at Jinnam Gymnasium lasted 1 hour and 21 minutes. Kim Yu-jung and Lee Yu-rim dropped the opening game 17-21 against their Chinese opponents. Li Yijing boasts significant pedigree on the world tour, having previously reached No. 5 in the global rankings alongside former partner Luo Xumin. Despite Li’s extensive experience, the South Korean duo responded decisively in the second frame.
Kim and Lee dismantled the Chinese pair 21-8 in the second game to force a deciding third set. The momentum swung violently in the final stages. Trailing 18-19, the Korean pair conceded a crucial match point following a disputed line call that visibly frustrated them on the court. Recovering their composure immediately, Kim and Lee rattled off four consecutive points to seal the 22-20 comeback win.
| Game | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Game 1 | Li Yijing / Wang Yiduo | 21-17 |
| Game 2 | Kim Yu-jung / Lee Yu-rim | 21-8 |
| Game 3 | Kim Yu-jung / Lee Yu-rim | 22-20 |
European Tour Form Propels Home Success
The semifinal run at the Super 500 Korea Open builds directly on a productive European swing last month. Xportsnews noted that Kim and Lee reached the round of 16 at both the Denmark Open and the French Open as lower-ranked contenders. At the Denmark Open, competing as the world No. 41, the pair defeated Amalia Cahaya Pratiwi and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti—then ranked No. 15—in straight games (21-17, 21-16).
They maintained that level at the French Open by overcoming Ukraine’s Polina Buhrova and Yevheniia Kantemir 2-1 (21-13, 20-22, 21-9) in the 32nd round. Those successive victories lifted their world ranking to 31st. Local fans at Jinnam Gymnasium chanted “Dae-han-min-guk” throughout the grueling rallies before celebrating the final point that guaranteed a spot in the next round.
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