Jeonnam’s Ho Han Kim and Seungmin Lee Selected for U-17 Junior National Boxing Team

Laying the Foundation for Next Year’s International Competitions

Ho Han Kim

Jeonnam boxing has demonstrated its strength by producing two U-17 junior national team members, Ho Han Kim and Seungmin Lee.

According to the Jeollanam-do Sports Council and the Jeollanam-do Boxing Association on December 1, boxing prospects Ho Han Kim (54kg category, 3rd year at Jeonnam Physical Education Middle School) and Seungmin Lee (75kg category, 3rd year at Gokseong Middle School) each won their respective weight class titles at the "2026 U-19·U-17 National Team Selection Tournament" held in Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do on November 30, thereby securing final selection as Korea’s U-17 junior national team members.

This tournament was a nationwide event featuring fierce competition among the top middle and high school prospects from across the country. It was especially significant as it selected national representatives who will compete on the international stage next year.

First, Ho Han Kim (54kg category, 3rd year at Jeonnam Physical Education Middle School), who previously won a bronze medal at the 2025 Korea Boxing Association President’s Cup, faced Seokhwang Heo (Ulsan Champ Boxing) in the final and maintained steady control throughout the match.

Kim dominated the bout by calmly controlling the distance and delivering precise straight punches, ultimately securing a decision victory and a valuable weight class title.

Seungmin Lee

Seungmin Lee (75kg category, Gokseong Boxing Gym), who won a silver medal in the middleweight division at the 54th National Youth Sports Festival this year, also claimed victory in the final against Yuchan Sung (Pogok Middle School, Gyeonggi Province) by showcasing relentless offense and solid defensive skills. Notably, Lee began boxing at Gokseong Sports Club and, as a rare case for a local club athlete, achieved the remarkable feat of being selected as a national team member, proving the effectiveness of local club development.

Going forward, both athletes will participate in international competitions and national team training camps scheduled for next year, further honing their skills as representatives of Korean boxing.

Song Jin-ho, President of the Jeollanam-do Sports Council, stated, "The selection of Jeonnam boxing athletes as national team members at this tournament is a valuable achievement made possible by the efforts of the athletes and coaches, as well as the dedication of local clubs. We will continue to provide full support so that they can fully demonstrate their abilities on the international stage."

Joo Dong-hyun, President of the Jeollanam-do Boxing Association, also commented, "The victories of Ho Han Kim and Seungmin Lee demonstrate the excellence of Jeonnam’s boxing development system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.