World No. 1 Kim Won-ho (27, Samsung Life Insurance) and Seo Seung-jae (29, Samsung Life Insurance) pair have now gone without a title for eight consecutive tournaments.
The world-ranked No. 1 Kim Won-ho–Seo Seung-jae pair lost 0-2 (14-21, 18-21) to world No. 4 Malaysia pair Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik in the semifinals of the 2026 Badminton World Federation (BWF) World Tour Denmark Open (Super 750) men’s doubles on the 17th (Korean time) at SJF Bank Arena in Odense, Denmark, failing to win the title.
Having settled for bronze at the Asian Games, the Kim Won-ho–Seo Seung-jae pair extended their slump by failing to win the Denmark Open. The pair have now failed to win eight consecutive tournaments, putting even their world No. 1 ranking in jeopardy. In head-to-head matchups with Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, the Kim–Seo pair lost their advantage, with the record now tied at 3-3.
They missed a medal just shy of a title, but the challenge continues. The Kim Won-ho–Seo Seung-jae pair comfortably defeated Japan’s Okuhara Hiroki and Yamashita Kyohei 2-0 (21-12, 21-9) in the first round of the 2026 BWF World Tour France Open men’s doubles on the 20th at Arena Grand Paris in Paris, France, advancing to the round of 16.
The victory was so dominant that the match lasted barely 30 minutes in total. From the first set, Korea overwhelmed their opponents 13-4 and seized control early. In the second set they pulled away to 18-8, leaving their opponents no chance.
Above all, it is significant that Korea won in a match held just three days after failing to win the Denmark Open. It means they shook off the mental shock and physical fatigue and have started moving toward winning again.
Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik of Malaysia, who had defeated Korea, also entered this tournament. If Korea continues to win smoothly, the two teams could meet again on the path to the title, giving Korea a chance for revenge.
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