Today (10 December), the Republic of Korea will face Germany in the main round of the 2021 IHF Women’s World Championship at the Palau d’Esports in Granollers, Spain.

10,718 days earlier, on Thursday 6 August 1992 at the same venue, Korea played Germany in the semi-final of the women’s handball competition of the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992.

Korea, coached by Chung Hyung-Kyun, would go on to win gold, defeating Norway in the final 28:21 and retain their title won on home court at Seoul 1988.

And while the venue in Granollers features the modern-day Korean side led by Lee Mig-Yeong and Ryu Eun-Hee, one member of the Korean delegation in the venue is returning to a fond memory – Chung Hyung-Kyun, in Granollers in his role as Chairman of the Korea Handball Federation (KHF) Technical Committee.

“I took a tour of the Granollers arena on our first training day to remember all the memories of the Games and I heard the photo of the Korean women's team had been exhibited in the venue for a long time,” he said to ihf.info from the Korea team hotel in Barcelona.

“It was super-intensive during the match against Germany,” he added. “At the end of the game, the German team made a mistake and, consequently, we grabbed the chance and then won by one goal.”

One player making her debut Olympic Games appearance on the way to becoming a Korean sporting legend was the then 19-year-old Oh Seong-Ok, now current head coach of SK Handball Club in Korea along with roles as a technical member of the KHF, female member of the Korea Sports Council and IHF Analyst.

“At that time, the German team was so strong that we thought we could win the gold medal if we beat them and I remember how happy I was to win that match,” said Oh Seong-ok to ihf.info from her home in Seoul.

“Germany was so good at offence and defence and winning was like a miracle, but a miracle happened to the Korean team and we won by one goal. I was so happy that all the players hugged me on the court and cried tears of joy. I will never forget the arena where the semi-final was held and the stadium where the final was held.”

The Palau d’Esports in Granollers is still hosting elite international handball events all these years later with Oh still remembering the atmosphere to this day.

“It was a great stadium that gave the Korean team a gold medal,” said Oh, whose Korea side beat Norway 28:21 in the final at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona – the current home of FC Barcelona’s men’s handball side.

“For me, it was my first time to experience an arena with such a wide and full crowd, I had no choice but to be nervous. I was so happy that our dream came true when we went to the highest podium and won the gold medal eventually. Norway had advanced to the final after beating Russia so I thought the semi-final against Germany was the final for us, but I also thought we could win the gold medal if we beat Germany. 

“Beating Norway was the moment when we recorded the history of Korean sports by winning two consecutive Olympic Games gold medals.”

Just a 2km walk from the Korean team hotel in Barcelona lies ‘Plaça dels Campions’ (Olympic Champions Square) where all gold medal winners of Barcelona 1992 are remembered with a special plaque in the floor – including Korea – and coach Chung also remembers his own ‘Campions’ and the significance of his young side beating Norway, a side they had won against in their first game of the competition.

“The average age of our players was 20.3 years old and I was just 37 years old – a young head coach at that time. The first and final matches against Norway team were unforgettable. They've always been the top-ranked team and their play was super-amazing. However, our players did a great job in defence in the final and took a victory.

“Considering my handball career, it was one of the biggest honours for me to participate in the 1992 Olympic Games in 1992 as a head coach – it’s still the biggest blessing and turning point of my life.”

History always seems to repeat in handball and Spain 2021 will see that Germany – Korea rematch on Friday, so what is Chung’s message to the young side again playing in Granollers?

“German players have always been physically bigger and stronger [than us] and we have to admit that” he explained. “The key for our players for victory is how do we overcome their physical advantage? In my opinion, our players are playing better at scoring during attacks as I have analysed their previous matches. 

“Our biggest issue is defence and our players should play a more aggressive defence and try to make a lot of turnovers. The biggest obstacle will be the firm and tall German defence and the quick attacks of their wing players.

“If our players win tomorrow, it would be reward for their endeavours that they put forth during this championship – they're still trying their best and I'm so proud of them.”

And one last question to Oh, where is her medal from 1992 kept?

“My Mum has that medal at home in a frame,” she said. “The Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games were the best moment of my life.”

Republic of Korea women at the 1992 Olympic Games

Preliminary Round – Palau d’Esports, Granollers
Thursday 30 July 1992 Norway vs Korea 16:27
Saturday 1 August 1992 Korea vs Austria 27:27
Monday 3 August 1992 Korea vs Spain 28:18

Semi-Final – Palau d’Esports, Granollers
Thursday 6 August 1992 Korea vs Germany 26:25 (17:13)

Final – Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona
Saturday 8 August 1992 Norway vs Korea 21:28 (8:16)