South Korea has long dominated the world of short track speed skating, yet it has never achieved a clean sweep of gold medals at the Asian Games. Time and again, South Korea has fallen short against the Great Wall of China. To claim all nine gold medals in short track at the 2025 Harbin Asian Games, the South Korean team will again have to overcome their biggest rival, China.
The South Korean short track team is currently undergoing intense adaptation training in Harbin.
To sweep all nine gold medals, the women’s team, led by Choi Min Jeong and Kim Gil Ri (both from Seongnam City Hall), boasts a lineup as strong as any Olympic squad. Meanwhile, the men’s team, centered around Park Ji Won (Seoul City Hall), is also highly competitive.
South Korea, the World’s Best in Short Track, Takes Aim at a Historic Clean Sweep
However, winning every gold medal is easier said than done. Looking back at the past Winter Asian Games, South Korea has never won all available short track golds at the Asian level.
South Korea won the highest number of gold medals in a single Asian Games, six, at both the 1999 Gangwon Games and the 2003 Aomori Games, when ten short track golds were awarded.
In terms of proportion, South Korea’s best performance was at the 2017 Sapporo Games, where they claimed five out of eight gold medals.
What has consistently blocked South Korea from a clean sweep? The answer is China. Excluding the inaugural 1986 Sapporo Games, South Korea and China have split all but one short track gold medal (the men’s 3000m at the 1990 Sapporo Games).
China has mainly dominated the 500m event, which has long been South Korea’s Achilles’ heel. The only time a South Korean skater won 500m gold at the Winter Asian Games was Lee Joon Hwan in 1999. Meanwhile, China has claimed 13 gold medals in the 500m event alone.
China is also a formidable competitor in the 1000m and 1500m events, boasting a strong roster for this year’s Games. Key skaters include Lin Xiaojun, a naturalized Chinese athlete who previously represented South Korea; Liu Shaoang and Liu Shaolin, former members of the Hungarian national team; and Fan Kexin, a veteran leader of the Chinese women’s team.
Additionally, China is the host nation for this year’s Games. With the home ice advantage, there are concerns that China may use its influence beyond favorable conditions.
News1
China Seeks Golds in the 500m, 1000m, and 1500m, Bolstered by Home Ice Advantage
China’s controversial officiating at the 2022 Beijing Olympics remains fresh in memory. At the time, questionable calls disqualified South Korean skaters, while China benefited from the decision to win two gold medals.
The competition venue itself is also a key variable. The Heilongjiang Ice Training Center, where short track events will occur, has a narrower outer lane than other rinks. Most international venues provide extra space beyond the official track dimensions to ensure safety, but this venue strictly adheres to standard measurements, limiting the skating room.
This could disadvantage South Korean skaters, who often rely on explosive speed on the outside lanes to stage comeback victories.
Furthermore, the ice quality has been noted as subpar, meaning skaters must be cautious of unexpected falls and accidents during the races.
Despite these challenges, South Korea is still considered the strongest team in skill and depth. Short track head coach Yoon Jae Myung remains confident, stating, “We expect China to use home advantage to its benefit, but our athletes have the skill to overcome it.”
