Kim So-yeong
South Korean badminton player (born 1992)
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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]
Kim at the 2013 French Super Series | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Nickname | Kim So-young | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 July 1992 Daegu, South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 58 kg (128 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Badminton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handedness | Right | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Women's & mixed doubles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Highest ranking | 1 (WD with Kong Hee-yong 4 October 2022) 20 (XD with Kim Gi-jung 10 July 2014) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BWF profile | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| Korean name | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hangul | 김소영 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hanja | 金昭映 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RR | Gim Soyeong | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MR | Kim Soyŏng | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, Japan |  Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
21–10, 21–17 |  Bronze |
World Championships
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Huelva, Spain | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
18–21, 17–21 |  Bronze |
| 2022 | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | Kong Hee-yong |
 Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan |
20–22, 14–21 |  Silver |
| 2023 | Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Kong Hee-yong |
 Apriyani Rahayu Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti |
9–21, 20–22 | Bronze |
Asian Games
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China | Kong Hee-yong |
Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan |
21–16, 9–21, 12–21 | Bronze |
Asian Championships
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Kong Hee-yong |
 Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi |
17–21, 22–20, 14–21 | Bronze |
Summer Universiade
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia | Chang Ye-na |
Luo Yu Tian Qing |
27–25, 15–21, 23–21 |  Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia | Kim Gi-jung |
Liu Cheng Tian Qing |
22–20, 21–14 | Gold |
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
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | U.S. Open | Super 300 | Kim Hye-jeong |
Tang Jinhua Yu Xiaohan |
21–18, 13–21, 15–21 |  Runner-up |
| 2019 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong |
Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi |
19–21, 15–21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Spain Masters | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong |
Nami Matsuyama Chiharu Shida |
23–21, 15–21, 21–17 |  Winner |
| 2019 | New Zealand Open | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong |
Misaki Matsutomo Ayaka Takahashi |
21–15, 21–18 | Winner |
| 2019 | Japan Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong |
Mayu Matsumoto Wakana Nagahara |
21–12, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2019 | Chinese Taipei Open | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong |
 Jongkolphan Kititharakul Rawinda Prajongjai |
19–21, 21–18, 26–28 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Korea Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
13–21, 21–19, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2019 | French Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
21–16, 19–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2020 (II) | Thailand Open | Super 1000 | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
21–18, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2020 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
21–15, 24–26, 19–21 | Runner-up |
| 2021 | French Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
17–21, 12–21 | Runner-up |
| 2021 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | Kong Hee-yong |
Nami Matsuyama Chiharu Shida |
21–14, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2022 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong |
Baek Ha-na Lee Yu-rim |
21–17, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2023 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Kong Hee-yong |
Baek Ha-na Lee So-hee |
21–5, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2023 | Thailand Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong |
Benyapa Aimsaard Nuntakarn Aimsaard |
21–13, 21–17 | Winner |
| 2023 | Korea Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong |
Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan |
10–21, 21–17, 7–21 | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Japan Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong |
Chen Qingchen Jia Yifan |
21–17, 21–14 | Winner |
| 2023 | Australian Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong |
Liu Shengshu Tan Ning |
21–18, 21–16 | Winner |
| 2025 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | Lee Seo-jin |
Hinata Suzuki Nao Yamakita |
18–21, 23–25 | Runner-up |
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
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Macau Open | Choi Hye-in |
Eom Hye-won Jang Ye-na |
18–21, 16–21 | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Korea Grand Prix Gold | Jang Ye-na |
Go Ah-ra Yoo Hae-won |
21–15, 21–12 | Winner |
| 2016 | Indonesian Masters | Chae Yoo-jung |
Jongkolphan Kititharakul Rawinda Prajongjai |
21–18, 22–20 | Winner |
| 2016 | Korea Masters | Chae Yoo-jung |
Jung Kyung-eun Shin Seung-chan |
14–21, 14–21 | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Chinese Taipei Open | Chae Yoo-jung |
Kim Hye-rin Yoo Hae-won |
21–12, 21–11 | Winner |
| 2017 | Korea Masters | Kong Hee-yong |
Lee So-hee Shin Seung-chan |
18–21, 21–23 | Runner-up |
- BWF Grand Prix Gold tournament
- BWF Grand Prix tournament
BWF International Challenge/Series (2 titles)
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Osaka International | Yoo Hae-won |
Ayako Sakuramoto Yukiko Takahata |
16–21, 21–17, 21–19 | Winner |
| 2026 | Singapore International | Jung Kyung-eun |
Kim Yu-jung Lee Yu-lim |
24–22, 21–14 | Winner |
- BWF International Challenge tournament
- BWF International Series tournament
