South Korea’s hockey roots trace back to the 1920s, but for decades, it lagged behind its Far East rivals. That changed after 2000. Now, South Korea is a top-three force in Asian hockey, with HL Anyang ruling the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH) and the national team having competed on the sport’s biggest stages – the World Championship’s top division and the Olympic Games.
| SOUTH KOREA’S ICE HOCKEY IN A NUTSHELL | |
|---|---|
| IIHF Member Since | July 25, 1960 |
| Men’s World Ranking | 22 |
| Total Players | 3,587 |
| Senior Male Players | 96 |
| Junior Players | 2,988 |
| Female Players | 503 |
| Total Referees | 45 |
| Indoor Rinks | 44 |
| Outdoor Rinks | 10 |
| Nation Population | 51,844,834 |
| Source: IIHF | |
History of Ice Hockey in South Korea – Rising from the Shadows to the Big Stage
Ice hockey first emerged in Korea during the era of Japanese rule, with the sport developing in close connection with its Japanese counterpart. The first documented game in Korea took place in 1928, long before the peninsula was divided into North and South following World War II.
The southern half of the peninsula became a member of the IIHF in 1960 (North Korea joined three years later). However, South Korea didn’t truly step onto the international stage until 1979, making its debut in the C-Pool of the World Championship.
After plummeting to the lowest D-Pool in the ‘90s, Korean hockey hit rock bottom – but then came the resurgence. The program improved dramatically, culminating in 2018 when South Korea not only competed on home ice at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics but also made its first-ever appearance in the World Championship’s top division.
While the pandemic brought a slight step back, South Korea remains one of top Asian hockey teams in the IIHF system.
South Korean Ice Hockey Teams, Leagues and Players
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2026 Ice Hockey Asian Championship: Schedule & Results
The 2026 IIHF Ice Hockey Asia Championship Kicks Off Soon in Beijing, China
Matt Dalton Retires: End of an Era in Korean Hockey
South Korea in the Winter Olympics Ice Hockey Tournament
Thanks to PyeongChang winning the bid to host the Winter Olympics, South Korea’s hockey team made its long-awaited debut on the sport’s biggest stage. And they didn’t back down. Bolstered by seven naturalized players from Canada and the U.S., the host nation held its own against hockey powerhouses.
In the opening game, they pushed the Czech Republic to the limit, falling just short in a hard-fought 1-2 battle. Min Ho Cho made history with South Korea’s first Olympic goal – a moment that would be tragically underscored four years later by his untimely passing.
South Korea at the Ice Hockey World Championship – A Journey Through the Tiers
Even after stepping onto the international stage, South Korea wasn’t a consistent presence in the IIHF program – it only became one in 1986, during a period when China dominated Asian hockey. For the rest of the millennium, the team bounced between the C and D pools of the World Championship.
But things started to shift after 2000. In 2002, following a restructuring of the championship format, South Korea made its debut in the second tier, now called Division I. After 2010, the country established itself as a regular fixture in Division I.
The breakthrough moment came in 2017 when South Koreans finished second in Division 1A, earning a historic promotion to the top division. To this day, alongside Kazakhstan, it remains the only Asian nation in modern history to climb into the elite on its own merit – unlike Japan, which competed at the top level from 1998 to 2004 thanks to a special berth reserved for an Asian team.
Currently, South Korea plays in the third-tier Division 1B, but there’s little doubt they’ll be aiming for a swift return to Division 1A.
South Korean Ice Hockey Team at the Asian Winter Games and Other Continental Events
When it comes to Asian hockey, South Korea remains one of the leading nations, consistently battling with Japan for the No. 2 spot. Its best historical result came at the 2017 Asian Winter Games, where it secured a silver medal after surpassing its Japanese rival and falling short only against Kazakhstan.
At the inaugural IIHF Asia Championship in 2025, South Korea settled for bronze – a slight disappointment following a brilliant opening victory over Kazakhstan.
South Korea Men’s National Ice Hockey Team Members, Players and Stats
In recent years, the South Korean squad has been led by Woo Jae Kim, a former longtime national team player who learned the coaching craft under the best – serving as an assistant to Jim Paek.
The nation’s all-time leader in games played, goals, and points is the legendary Ki Sung Kim, who racked up 145 appearances, 72 goals, and 142 points in a South Korean jersey. But his record for most games played is under serious threat – his brother, Sang Wook Kim, is just one appearance away from tying the mark.
South Korea National Ice Hockey Team – Records and Statistics
Dive into the biggest milestones and standout stats that have shaped South Korea’s national hockey team.
| 🏆 IIHF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP | |
| Appearance | 38 (1 in Top Division) |
| Best Result | 16th (2018) |
| ❄️ WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES | |
| Appearance | 1 |
| Best Result | 12th (2018) |
| 🌏 ASIAN WINTER GAMES | |
| Appearance | 9 |
| Best Result | 🥈 (2017) |
| 📈 STATISTICS | |
| First Match | Spain 1:7 (1979) |
| Biggest Win | Hongkong 44:0 (1987) |
| Biggest Defeat | Latvia 0:27 (1993) |
South Korea Hockey Team Ranking
Right now, the South Korean men’s hockey team sits at 22nd in the IIHF rankings, making them the second-highest ranked team from Asia (with Kazakhstan at 15th, Japan at 24th, and China at 26th). However, after recently dropping out of Division 1A at the World Championships, it’s highly likely that Japan will soon leap ahead.
Historically, South Korea’s best-ever position was 16th – achieved during the unforgettable 2018 Olympic year, when they also competed in the top division of the World Championships. A quick glance back to their 33rd-place ranking in 2010 really underscores the dramatic progress of Korean hockey.
Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH) – A Joint Japanese-Korean Hockey League
A standalone professional South Korean hockey league operated from 1995 to 2004. However, it ceased to exist after South Korea, Japan, and China agreed to establish the Asia League Ice Hockey (ALIH).
The entry of Korean teams into the Pan-Asian competition marked a major step forward – facing off against Japanese clubs helped elevate the level of Korean players, which positively impacted the performance of the national team as well.
The strongest Korean club, HL Anyang, is one of the league’s founding members and has been competing continuously since its inception in 2003. However, it is not the only Korean team to have played in ALIH:
• HL Anyang: 2003 – present
• High1: 2004 – 2019
• Daemyung Sangmu: 2012 – 2016
• Daemyung Killer Whales: 2016 – 2021
The most successful club in ALIH history – not just among South Korean teams but overall – is HL Anyang, with eight titles. This club has also been the primary supplier of players to the South Korean national team for many years.
South Korea Ice Hockey League
Currently, there is no standalone South Korean league. However, in line with a tradition that has developed across all three major East Asian hockey nations – South Korea, Japan, and China – the Korea National Ice Hockey Championship has been held annually since 1946 as a tournament featuring professional, university, and amateur teams.
The ecosystem of South Korean club hockey is further shaped by school competitions at the university and high school levels, which, following the American model, integrate athletic careers with academic education.
Best South Korean Ice Hockey Players
Considering the extremely low number of registered senior hockey players (less than one hundred), it’s nothing short of a minor miracle that South Korea has managed to produce several players who can compete on the global stage.
There’s only one name to kick off the list of top Korean players – Sang Wook Kim. The captain of the national team, a true living legend of Korean hockey, and brother to the equally renowned Ki Sung Kim (now retired). In 2019, he got a shot with Kunlun Red Star, but he ultimately didn’t become the first Korean to break into the KHL. He even showcased his skills in Finland’s second-tier league, Mestis, in the past.
Sang Hoon Shin is one of those game-changing players who never got the shot he truly deserved in the elite leagues – a real loss for the big stage! The explosive forward lit up the 2019 World Championship 1A by blasting 4 goals in a 4-1 victory over Belarus. Today, he’s turning heads in Poland with Zagłębie Sosnowiec, and he’s already proven his scoring prowess during his stints in the ECHL and Mestis.
The reins are slowly being handed over to rising Korean hockey sensation Chongmin Lee – a dangerous right-hander who’s currently lighting up the ECHL, with battle scars from lower-tier Swedish leagues and the BCHL.
Long-time national team backbone Jin Hui Ahn made history as the only Korean-born to notch a goal at both the Olympic Games and top-division World Championships, and he even put his skills to the test in Finland’s second-tier league.
Anchoring the back end for both the national team and HL Anyang is the ever-reliable Won-Jun Kim, who honed his craft during his formative years in Finland. Among the next generation of defensemen, Hee Doo Nam is steadily upping his game.
Top Korean Ice Hockey Prospects
The new crop is already making waves: defenseman Yu Chan Kong and forward Si Hwan Kim are showcasing their talents in Canada’s junior BCHL, while Sangyeob Kim is sharpening his skills in the American NAHL before eyeing a move to the prestigious NCAA. All three young guns demonstrated their potential at the 2025 Asian Winter Games.
The momentum continues as Min Joon Huh makes his mark in the BCHL and another promising talent, Junsu Kwak, rises in the NAHL.
South Korean NHL Players
South Korea still hasn’t produced a player who’s cracked the NHL – the pinnacle of hockey. While Chi-sun Baek, better known as Jim Paek, and Richard Park are often hailed as the first Koreans to make the leap, that claim isn’t exactly bulletproof:
- ✅ Both Paek and Park were born in Seoul, South Korea.
- ❌ Paek grew up in Canada, so he is a product of Canadian hockey.
- ❌ Park was raised in the USA and has been molded by American leagues.
- ❌ Neither ever suited up for their country of birth.
- ❌ Jim Paek played for Team Canada as he prepped for the Winter Olympics in Albertville (though he never actually hit the ice there).
- ❌ Richard Park represented Team USA, winning a bronze at the 2004 World Championship and even captaining the squad two years later.
So, we can’t really crown either as true pioneers of South Korean hockey in the NHL.
Korean-Born Players in NHL
That said, both men proudly embrace their roots and have poured tremendous effort into boosting hockey back home. Paek led the South Korean national team from 2014 to 2021 – making his mark at the toughest stages like the Winter Olympics and top-division World Championships – while Park backed him up from 2014 to 2018.
Beyond coaching, Paek also steered the growth of Korean hockey as the Director of Hockey Operations for the Korea Ice Hockey Association. For the past few years, he’s shifted gears to the club level, taking the helm as head coach of HL Anyang, Korea’s premier hockey team.
| Korean-Born NHL Players | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Born | Raised in | Played for |
| Chi-sun Baek a. k. a. Jim Paek | Seoul, South Korea | Canada | Canada |
| Richard Park | Seoul, South Korea | USA | USA |
Naturalized South Korea Hockey Team Players
South Korea, riding the wave of hosting the Winter Olympics, turned to naturalizing foreign players – just like Japan did before and China later on. In the South Korean jersey, a total of seven Canadian and American players hit the ice at the Olympics and World Championships, yet not one of them had any Korean roots.
In the post-pandemic era, however, South Korean hockey management gradually moved away from this kind of outside help, with beloved goalie Matt Dalton serving as the final foreign reinforcement in 2023. That era of naturalized players thus wrapped up a symbolic 10-year chapter (2013–2023).
| Naturalized South Korea Hockey Team Players | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Born | Played for Korea |
| Matt Dalton (G) | CAN | 2015 – 2023 |
| Alex Plante (D) | CAN | 2016 – 2019 |
| Bryan Young (D) | CAN | 2013 – 2018 |
| Eric Regan (D) | CAN | 2015 – 2019 |
| Michael Swift (F) | CAN | 2013 – 2018 |
| Brock Radunske (F) | CAN | 2012 – 2018 |
| Mike Testwuide (F) | USA | 2014 – 2018 |
South Korea Youth Program: U18 and U20 Junior Hockey Teams
South Korea’s youth hockey program is quite solid, deeply rooted in its educational system – with top talents honing their skills in the university league and proudly representing their homeland at the Winter Universiade.
The South Korean U18 team has been part of the IIHF program since 1999, spending many years bouncing between Divisions I and II. In recent years, however, they’ve successfully locked in a spot in Division 1B, placing them among the world’s top 22.
Meanwhile, the U20 team first hit the global stage back in 1990, making three more appearances before a 10-year hiatus from the World Championships. After years of struggling to climb out of Division II, they finally debuted at the Division 1B level in 2023.
South Korea vs Thailand (Hockey): 92 – 0
In 1998, at the IIHF Asian Oceanic Junior U18 Championship in Harbin, China, the South Korean U18 team secured their first-ever gold medal at this event by narrowly edging out the top favorites from Japan and China. But it wasn’t that win which etched the tournament into hockey lore – it was the jaw-dropping 92-0 thrashing of Thailand, a record that still stands today.
Meet Dong Hwan Song, the Korean Rocket: record-setter of 31 Goals in a Game
The famous game also delivered another world record, courtesy of forward Dong Hwan Song, who racked up an astonishing 31 goals in one match. His jersey now hangs in the Hockey Hall of Fame in honor of this feat.
Nicknamed “the Korean Rocket,” between 1998 and 2011 Song proudly donned the South Korean jersey, playing a pivotal role in propelling HL Anyang to two ALIH championships. In 2006, he dominated the Pan-Asian league’s scoring charts, firmly establishing himself as the league’s top scorer.
South Korea vs North Korea in ice hockey
One of the most beautiful stories from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang was the unification of both rival nations’ female hockey teams into a joint Korean team. As for the men’s team, such a proposition was likely never on the table, as the qualitative gap between South and North Korea today is vast.
However, that wasn’t always the case. Taking a look at both teams’ record over time, we find that after entering international hockey, both nations marched side by side, competing in Pool C of the World Championships.
During the early ’90s, North Korea even regularly defeated South Korea in head-to-head matchups, including a dominating 14-1 win at the 1992 Asian Cup. Interestingly, in the following year’s edition of that now-defunct tournament, North Korea finished second, right behind Japan, while South Korea and China were left behind.
But after 1993, North Korea disappeared from the hockey map for eight long years due to a severe economic crisis and famine. The country’s hockey scene never fully recovered from this blow, and today North Korean hockey struggles in Division 3B. South Korean hockey, on the other hand, has taken a completely different trajectory.
Ironically, the head-to-head record still tips in favor of the northern side of the island to this day:
| South Korea vs. North Korea Head-to-head | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| 12 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 40 | 64 |
South Korea Ice Hockey Federation – contact
The official governing body for South Korea’s hockey program is the Korea Ice Hockey Association, with Hojin Lee at the helm.
| Korea Ice Hockey Association | |
|---|---|
| President | Hojin Lee |
| Address | Korea Ice Hockey Association #103 Velodrome Olympic-ro-424 Songpa-gu Seoul 138-749 South Korea |
| Phone | +82 – 2 – 425 7001 or -7002 |
| icehockey@sports.or.kr | |
| Website | kiha.or.kr |
| Social Media | facebook.com/kiha1928 x.com/KIHAICEHOCKEY instagram.com/hockeykorea/ |
#️⃣ Do They Play Hockey in South Korea?
South Korea got its start in hockey way back in the ’20s of the last century. The nation joined the IIHF in 1960 and made its debut at the World Championships in 1979. Today, the South Korean men’s team ranks among Asia’s top three, taking the ice in Division 1B – the third tier – of the World Championships.
#️⃣ Does South Korea Have a Hockey Team?
South Korea not only fields its own men’s, women’s, and youth national teams but also features an active club scene with professional, collegiate, and amateur teams. Leading the charge is HL Anyang, the eight-time champion of the Asian Ice Hockey League (ALIH).
#️⃣ Is Hockey Popular in South Korea?
Ice hockey in South Korea has long played second fiddle to more popular team sports like baseball and soccer. But in recent years, the sport has slowly been stepping into the spotlight – thanks in no small part to the home Olympics in Pyeongchang back in 2018. It’s particularly catching on in certain cities and regions, with Anyang, a satellite city of Seoul, emerging as a key hub. Looking ahead, there’s every reason to expect hockey’s popularity in Korea to keep climbing.
