Kim So-yeong

Kim So-yeong (Korean: 김소영; born 9 July 1992) is a South Korean badminton player.^[1] She is widely recognized for her exceptional defensive skills, tactical intelligence, and powerful net play. Throughout her career, she has achieved significant milestones, most notably reaching the world number one ranking in the women's doubles alongside Kong Hee-yong. Her legacy is highlighted by several prestigious accolades, including a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,^[2] a silver and two bronze medals at the BWF World Championships,^[3] as well a bronze in the 2018 Asian Championships and 2022 Asian Games.^[4] Kim also part of Korea winning team in the 2022 Uber Cup and Asian Games.^[5][6] Together with her partner Kong, they were honored as the 2019 BWF Most Improved Player of the Year.^[7]

Career

Kim, who attended the University of Incheon, was the triple crowns at the 2013 Summer Universiade, winning the gold medals in the women's doubles, mixed doubles and team event.^[8]

Kim competed at the 2014 Asian Games, clinched the silver medal in the women's team event.^[9]

Achievements

Olympic Games

Women's doubles

World Championships

Women's doubles

Asian Games

Women's doubles

Asian Championships

Women's doubles

Summer Universiade

Women's doubles

Mixed doubles

BWF World Tour (11 titles, 8 runners-up)

The BWF World Tour, which was announced on 19 March 2017 and implemented in 2018,^[10] is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The BWF World Tours are divided into levels of World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100.^[11]

Women's doubles

BWF Grand Prix (3 titles, 3 runners-up)

The BWF Grand Prix had two levels, the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. It was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and played between 2007 and 2017.

Women's doubles

BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament

BWF Grand Prix tournament

BWF International Challenge/Series (2 titles)

Women's doubles

BWF International Challenge tournament

BWF International Series tournament

References

1. ^ "Players: Kim So Yeong". Badminton World Federation. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
2. ^ "S. Korea Wins Bronze in Women's Doubles Badminton at Tokyo Olympics". KBS. 2 August 2021. Archived 2 August 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
3. ^ "한국 배드민턴 '노골드'...김소영-공희영 은메달, 안세영 동메달" (in Korean). Hankook Ilbo. Archived 28 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
4. ^ Hong, Gyu-bin (16 October 2023). "[아시안게임] 배드민턴 김소영-공희용, 여자복식 동메달…세계 1위에 무릎" (in Korean). Yonhap. Archived 28 December 2025 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
5. ^ Palar, Sanjeev (14 May 2022). "Badminton BWF Uber Cup Final 2022 - South Korea beat China 3-2, re-live all the action as it happened". Olympics. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
6. ^ "S. Korea Bests China to Win Women's Badminton Team Gold". KBS. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
7. ^ "Momota, Huang are BWF Players of the Year". Badminton World Federation. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
8. ^ "존박 돌발행동, 김소영-서우리 때문에 차량 난입" (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
9. ^ "KIM Soyeong". Incheon 2014 official website. Archived from the original on 2 October 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
10. ^ Alleyne, Gayle (19 March 2017). "BWF Launches New Events Structure". Badminton World Federation. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
11. ^ Sukumar, Dev (10 January 2018). "Action-Packed Season Ahead!". Badminton World Federation. Archived 13 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 January 2018.