1. Overview
Kim So-yeong (김소영Gim So-yeongKorean; born 9 July 1992) is a highly accomplished South Korean professional badminton player specializing in women's doubles. She is widely recognized for her formidable partnership with Kong Hee-yong, with whom she has achieved significant success on the international stage, including an Olympic medal, multiple World Championships medals, and numerous BWF World Tour titles. Kim has been a consistent performer for South Korea, contributing to team victories at major events and earning individual accolades such as the BWF Most Improved Player of the Year award.
2. Early life and education
Kim So-yeong was born on 9 July 1992, in Daegu, South Korea. She later resided in Incheon, South Korea. Kim So-yeong pursued her higher education at the University of Incheon. She stands at a height of 5.7 ft (1.73 m) and weighs 128 lb (58 kg). She plays with her right hand.
3. Career
Kim So-yeong began her career in badminton, eventually finding significant success in doubles play, particularly in women's doubles. She formed a notable partnership with Kong Hee-yong, which became a cornerstone of her career. Their collaboration led to substantial achievements, including reaching the world No. 1 ranking in women's doubles on 4 October 2022. As of 13 August 2024, the pair maintained a strong world No. 9 ranking. Beyond her successful women's doubles career, Kim also competed in mixed doubles, reaching a career-high world No. 20 ranking with Kim Gi-jung on 10 July 2014. Her dedication and improvements in performance, especially alongside Kong Hee-yong, were recognized when they were jointly awarded the 2019 BWF Most Improved Player of the Year.
4. Major achievements
Kim So-yeong has achieved numerous significant milestones throughout her badminton career, earning medals across various prestigious international competitions, including the Olympic Games, BWF World Championships, Asian Games, Asian Championships, and the Summer Universiade. She has also secured multiple titles and runner-up finishes on the BWF World Tour, BWF Grand Prix, and BWF International Challenge/Series circuits.
4.1. Olympic Games
Kim So-yeong's Olympic journey culminated in a bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Musashino Forest Sport Plaza, Tokyo, Japan | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 21-10, 21-17 |  Bronze |
4.2. World Championships
Kim So-yeong has consistently medaled at the BWF World Championships, securing one silver and two bronze medals.
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Palacio de los Deportes Carolina Marín, Huelva, Spain | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 18-21, 17-21 |  Bronze |
| 2022 | Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Chen Qingchen (China) Jia Yifan (China) | 20-22, 14-21 |  Silver |
| 2023 | Royal Arena, Copenhagen, Denmark | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Apriyani Rahayu (Indonesia) Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti (Indonesia) | 9-21, 20-22 | Bronze |
4.3. Asian Games
Kim So-yeong has contributed to South Korea's team successes and secured an individual medal at the Asian Games.
Women's team
| Year | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Gyeyang Gymnasium, Incheon, South Korea | Silver |
| 2022 | Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China | Gold |
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Binjiang Gymnasium, Hangzhou, China | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Chen Qingchen (China) | 21-16, 9-21, 12-21 | Bronze |
4.4. Asian Championships
Kim So-yeong has earned bronze in women's doubles and silver in team events at the Asian Championships.
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Wuhan Sports Center Gymnasium, Wuhan, China | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Misaki Matsutomo (Japan) Ayaka Takahashi (Japan) | 17-21, 22-20, 14-21 | Bronze |
Women's team
| Year | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Rizal Memorial Coliseum, Manila, Philippines | Silver |
4.5. Summer Universiade
In 2013, Kim So-yeong achieved a remarkable triple crown at the Summer Universiade.
Women's doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia | Chang Ye-na (South Korea) | Luo Yu (China) Tian Qing (China) | 27-25, 15-21, 23-21 |  Gold |
Mixed doubles
| Year | Venue | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia | Kim Gi-jung (South Korea) | Liu Cheng (China) Tian Qing (China) | 22-20, 21-14 | Gold |
Mixed team
| Year | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Tennis Academy, Kazan, Russia | Gold |
4.6. BWF World Tour
The BWF World Tour, launched in 2018, is a series of elite badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). It comprises various levels, including the World Tour Finals, Super 1000, Super 750, Super 500, Super 300 (part of the HSBC World Tour), and the BWF Tour Super 100. Kim So-yeong has accumulated 11 titles and 7 runner-up finishes on this tour.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Level | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | U.S. Open | Super 300 | Kim Hye-jeong (South Korea) | Tang Jinhua (China) Yu Xiaohan (China) | 21-18, 13-21, 15-21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Indonesia Masters | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Misaki Matsutomo (Japan) Ayaka Takahashi (Japan) | 19-21, 15-21 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Spain Masters | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Nami Matsuyama (Japan) Chiharu Shida (Japan) | 23-21, 15-21, 21-17 | Winner |
| 2019 | New Zealand Open | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Misaki Matsutomo (Japan) Ayaka Takahashi (Japan) | 21-15, 21-18 | Winner |
| 2019 | Japan Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Mayu Matsumoto (Japan) Wakana Nagahara (Japan) | 21-12, 21-12 | Winner |
| 2019 | Chinese Taipei Open | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Jongkolphan Kititharakul (Thailand) Rawinda Prajongjai (Thailand) | 19-21, 21-18, 26-28 | Runner-up |
| 2019 | Korea Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 13-21, 21-19, 21-17 | Winner |
| 2019 | French Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 21-16, 19-21, 12-21 | Runner-up |
| 2020 (II) | Thailand Open | Super 1000 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 21-18, 21-19 | Winner |
| 2020 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 21-15, 24-26, 19-21 | Runner-up |
| 2021 | French Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 17-21, 12-21 | Runner-up |
| 2021 | BWF World Tour Finals | World Tour Finals | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Nami Matsuyama (Japan) Chiharu Shida (Japan) | 21-14, 21-14 | Winner |
| 2022 | Korea Masters | Super 300 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Baek Ha-na (South Korea) Lee Yu-rim (South Korea) | 21-17, 21-12 | Winner |
| 2023 | All England Open | Super 1000 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Baek Ha-na (South Korea) Lee So-hee (South Korea) | 21-5, 21-12 | Winner |
| 2023 | Thailand Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Benyapa Aimsaard (Thailand) Nuntakarn Aimsaard (Thailand) | 21-13, 21-17 | Winner |
| 2023 | Korea Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Chen Qingchen (China) Jia Yifan (China) | 10-21, 21-17, 7-21 | Runner-up |
| 2023 | Japan Open | Super 750 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Chen Qingchen (China) Jia Yifan (China) | 21-17, 21-14 | Winner |
| 2023 | Australian Open | Super 500 | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Liu Shengshu (China) Tan Ning (China) | 21-18, 21-16 | Winner |
4.7. BWF Grand Prix
The BWF Grand Prix was a series of badminton tournaments sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), played between 2007 and 2017, and comprised two levels: Grand Prix and Grand Prix Gold. Kim So-yeong secured 3 titles and 3 runner-up positions in these tournaments.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Macau Open | Choi Hye-in (South Korea) | Eom Hye-won (South Korea) Jang Ye-na (South Korea) | 18-21, 16-21 | Runner-up |
| 2013 | Korea Grand Prix Gold | Jang Ye-na (South Korea) | Go Ah-ra (South Korea) Yoo Hae-won (South Korea) | 21-15, 21-12 | Winner |
| 2016 | Indonesian Masters | Chae Yoo-jung (South Korea) | Jongkolphan Kititharakul (Thailand) Rawinda Prajongjai (Thailand) | 21-18, 22-20 | Winner |
| 2016 | Korea Masters | Chae Yoo-jung (South Korea) | Jung Kyung-eun (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 14-21, 14-21 | Runner-up |
| 2017 | Chinese Taipei Open | Chae Yoo-jung (South Korea) | Kim Hye-rin (South Korea) Yoo Hae-won (South Korea) | 21-12, 21-11 | Winner |
| 2017 | Korea Masters | Kong Hee-yong (South Korea) | Lee So-hee (South Korea) Shin Seung-chan (South Korea) | 18-21, 21-23 | Runner-up |
4.8. BWF International Challenge/Series
Kim So-yeong has secured one title in the BWF International Challenge/Series tournaments.
Women's doubles
| Year | Tournament | Partner | Opponent | Score | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Osaka International | Yoo Hae-won (South Korea) | Ayako Sakuramoto (Japan) Yukiko Takahata (Japan) | 16-21, 21-17, 21-19 | Winner |
5. Awards and honors
In recognition of her significant improvements and outstanding performance, Kim So-yeong, alongside her partner Kong Hee-yong, was honored with the 2019 BWF Most Improved Player of the Year award.
6. Affiliation
Kim So-yeong is affiliated with Incheon International Airport, representing the organization in her professional badminton career.