2026 Seoul World Youth Hockey Tournament opens Sept. 6
Ten prospects drawn from four top Seoul hockey schools
Coach Park Se-yong to lead squad; season opener against Beijing
With the 2026 Seoul World Youth Hockey Tournament approaching, the Seoul squad is gearing up to challenge for the world title on home turf. Ten young prospects drawn from the city's top hockey schools have come together as one team to take on Asia's strongest youth sides.
The squad has set up a training camp at Yongsan High School's hockey rink, where it has been running tactical sessions and practice matches. In the lead-up to the opening, the team has focused on sharpening the rapid transitions, high-pressure play and quick use of space that define 5s hockey.
Six nations and regions will compete at the tournament, including host South Korea alongside China, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Macao. From Korea, the Seoul squad will join the national U15 and U18 teams in competing at a specially built venue at Jamwon Han River Park.
The Seoul squad is made up of 10 players selected from four city schools — Yongsan High School, Daewon High School, Yongsan Middle School and Sinam Middle School. Coach Park Se-yong of Daewon High School leads the bench, with coaches Lee Wan-ho of Yongsan High School and Choi Seong-hwan of Yongsan Middle School rounding out the coaching staff.
Tak Jeong-hun of Yongsan High School will serve as captain. His schoolmates Kim Jun-seok, Jo Yu-hwi and Yun Seong-pil also earned spots, while Daewon High School contributed Jeong Han-sol, Choi Han-gyeol, Im Tae-seong and Lee Yeong-jun. Jo Yun-chan of Yongsan Middle School and Han Rae-i of Sinam Middle School complete the roster.
International Experience to Drive Seoul's Push From the Opening Whistle
The Seoul squad is working to translate its players' international experience into on-field performance. Coach Choi Seong-hwan previously served as a coach for the Korean team at an international tournament in Perth, Australia, while Jo Yu-hwi and Yun Seong-pil have played in international matches in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Perth. Kim Jun-seok took part in a tour and exchange matches in Japan, and Im Tae-seong and Jo Yun-chan have also seen action in Amsterdam and Perth, respectively.
The team is channeling those experiences into faster game management and sharper crisis response. Given the rapid transitions that characterize 5s hockey in tight spaces, the squad has been intensively refining its pressing intensity, defensive organization and set-piece execution.
Seoul's first opponent will be the Beijing team from China. The squad opens the tournament against Beijing on Sept. 6.
In preparation for the season opener, the team sharpened its match readiness through high-intensity practice matches against the Korean national U15 and U18 teams. The sessions allowed the squad to test and address areas including press-breaking, transitions, set pieces and finishing in live game situations.
"Through the high-intensity practice matches against the U15 and U18 national teams, we clearly identified both our strengths and the areas we need to improve," coach Park said.
Park also signaled an aggressive approach against Beijing. "Beijing is a tough opponent, but we will use our players' overseas experience and fast transitions to seize the initiative from the very first game," he said.
The Seoul Metropolitan Hockey Association has also stepped up its support for the squad. Association President Jo Byeong-u, who chairs the organizing committee, visited the training camp to encourage the players and review preparations.
"With Asia's top hockey sides gathering in Seoul, we will spare no effort to ensure the players can focus on training and competing in the best possible environment," Jo said.
Captain Tak Jeong-hun spoke of the responsibility of representing Seoul on the international stage. "We are competing in a world youth tournament right here at home representing Seoul, so we will fight from the opening game with intense pressure and a one-team spirit," he said.
Until the tournament opens, the Seoul squad will continue to refine its defensive organization, set pieces and transitions at the Yongsan High School training camp. The team plans to showcase the competitiveness of Seoul youth hockey when it faces Beijing on Sept. 6.
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
