“I will pour my heart and soul into every shot.”
These were the resolute words of Jang Gab-seok, head coach of the South Korean shooting team, during the recent media day for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. His determination was palpable.
While shooting has long been a medal powerhouse for South Korea in international competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games, the team has recently hit a rough patch on the big stage.
They failed to secure any gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, and at the last Hangzhou Asian Games, they only managed to clinch two golds in the running Target event, coming up empty-handed in individual competitions.
However, South Korean shooting bounced back at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Rising stars like Ban Hyo-jin, Oh Ye-jin, and Yang Ji-in shocked the world with their gold medal performances, ushering in a new golden era. Ban and Yang have since solidified their positions as key team members, even claiming victories at the World Championships post-Olympics.
Now, the shooting team faces the challenge of translating their Paris success to the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. They’re sending a 30-athlete contingent to compete across 12 events. Oh Ye-jin (10m air pistol, 25m pistol) and Kwon Hyup-jun (10m air rifle, 50m rifle three positions) will pull double duty as double starters.
Despite the disappointment in Hangzhou, the Asian Games have historically been a happy hunting ground for South Korean shooters. They’ve bagged at least one gold medal in every Games since Jakarta 1962.
The team has set an ambitious target of five gold medals for this event. Medal hopes are pinned on the Paris Gold Medal Trio and Oh Se-hee, a double world champion in the women’s 50m rifle three positions.
Under their rallying cry “Unite for the World, Grow Dreams for the Future,” the team is pushing through grueling training camps, aiming to hit bullseye at the upcoming Games.
But they can’t afford to let their guard down. Unlike the Olympics, which features global competition, the Asian Games pit them repeatedly against regional powerhouses like Japan, India, and China. Coach Jang even considers the Asian Games a tougher challenge than the Olympics or World Championships.
Adapting to the Japanese shooting range is another hurdle. Recent scouting reports paint a less-than-ideal picture: the range is over an hour from the athletes’ village, and facilities, including lighting, are subpar.
To counter this, the team has recreated a mock-up of the Japanese range in Incheon based on gathered intel. With no chance to practice at the actual venue before the competition, they’ve poured everything into this simulated training environment.
Coach Jang fired a parting shot: It’ll repay the faith of our nation and shooting fans with world-class performances. It’s locked and loaded to prove South Korean shooting’s mettle once again at these Asian Games.