By Min Lee
Between my home in Vancouver and my business in Winnipeg, I have been closely involved with Korean teams since 2018. My background in curling and bilingual communication has allowed me to bridge the two worlds and build a deeper connection to the sport. During the off weeks, you can usually find me on Curling1spoon, a Korean curling media platform, where I work as a commentator and editor. This year marks the inaugural year of the Korean Canadian Curling Federation, where I serve as secretary general with the mission of encouraging Korean Canadians to discover and enjoy this wonderful sport. At heart, I simply consider myself a passionate curling enthusiast.
"K-URLING": KOREAN WOMEN CONTINUE TO MAKE WAVES
It is no secret that curling has become more diverse in recent years, especially on the women’s side. South Korea, a nation of 51 million people with a land size similar to the province of New Brunswick and only six dedicated curling facilities, is home to some of the sport’s top women’s teams.
From BTS to Squid Game to K-pop Demon Hunters, Korean culture has spread everywhere. You have heard of K-pop and K-drama, and now in curling there is "K-urling" and it is starting to take over.
As the season begins, let’s take a look at some of the teams competing on the Grand Slam of Curling tour.
Team Eun-ji Gim
• Rankings: No. 8 (2023) → No. 4 (2024) → No. 3 (2025) → No. 4 (current)
Team Gim has been a dominant force in GSOC events for several years. They recently won the Korean nationals in June, which secured their spot as Team Korea for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina. Skip Eun-ji Gim, who previously competed at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games and finished eighth, is determined to improve on that result 12 years later. Even with their Olympic ticket secured, the team intends to play a full schedule to keep themselves sharp and ready.
Fun fact: Gim is a dedicated runner who covers about 3,000 km a year under every kind of weather possible.
Team Eun-jung Kim
• Rankings: No. 6 (2023) → No. 21 (2024) → No. 6 (2025) → No. 5 (current)
The 2018 Olympic silver medalists finished fourth at the Korean nationals in June, a result that felt underwhelming after their consistent success last season. Out of five GSOC events, they reached the playoffs every time, making four semifinal appearances and one quarterfinal. Now they are eager for revenge.
Fun fact: The original four players have been together since middle school, and that long history explains their outstanding teamwork.
Team Seung-youn Ha
• Rankings: No. 41 (2023) → No. 15 (2024) → No. 18 (2025) → No. 7 (current)
This young squad has finished runner-up at Korean nationals two years in a row. With an average age of only 24.2, they are among the youngest regulars on the GSOC circuit. Known for bold shot-making and aggressive strategies, they are one of the most entertaining teams to watch.
Fun fact: Skip Seung-youn Ha was once an elite speed skater, and you can still find old clips of her skating on YouTube.
Team Bo-bae Kang
• Rankings: No. 144 (2023) → No. 163 (2024) → No. 96 (2025) → No. 17 (current)
This rising team, with an average age of just 20.4, had a breakout season last year. They started ranked 96th with only 18.8 points and climbed to 20th with 139.2 points by season’s end. They earned a promotion by winning the 2025 World Junior B Championship and went on to capture the World Junior Championship in Cortina, which will host the 2026 Winter Olympics.
They already opened this season with a victory at the Curling1spoon Elite 8. The team is competing in GSOC Tier 2 events this season, and their stated goal is to reach Tier 1 by the end of the year. With three players still eligible for juniors next year, they could be a major force for several Olympic cycles.
Fun fact: It is only their second year together, yet they are already world champions. The potential is enormous.
