The COVID-19 pandemic has had a powerful impact on everyday life, changing habits and forcing everyone to adapt to a new normal.

It has also impacted handball, with teams continuously organising different methods to safeguard players and the International Handball Federation (IHF) having to apply a bubble concept to the 27th IHF Men’s World Championship.

One of the hardest hit teams by the consequences of COVID-19 was the Republic of Korea, who were forced to take a different approach in preparing for Egypt 2021.

The Asian side, one of the powerhouses of the continent, were ready to challenge for a main round berth at Egypt 2021, only to find themselves forced to adopt a new strategy.

Albeit a popular sport in Korea, handball’s resources are finite, therefore a modified schedule for the Korean domestic league, set to finish in February, meant a new approach for coach Kang Il Koo.

With a strict COVID-19 policy in Korea, players will enter in a mandated 14-day quarantine upon arrival from Egypt, Korea had to make do with a new squad. The men’s national handball team can be looked at as a novelty, becoming the first Korean side from any sport to take part in an international tournament in the past year.

Despite being the youngest side in the competition, with an average age of 20.3 years old, Korea rely on their young players to be proud of representing their nation on the biggest stage of men’s handball, eager to learn and hungry for wins.

“It is important for us that these players give their best, earn important experience against top players in the world and maybe, who knows, we will unearth some hidden gems in our team,” said Kang Il Koo.

A pacey, dazzling side, Korea have always sprung a surprise or two at previous editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, yet at Egypt 2021, they are still looking for their first win.

Right back Kim Jin Young, who is still 20 years old, has been the top performer for the team with 26 goals in their first four games.

“We are still getting to grips with the type of handball played by our opponents and I feel this is a good experience for me, we are basically learning a new type of handball. I am sure that if we had more experience, we would have played better.”

“From what I feel, this it is completely different from what I am used to in Korea. The teams are stronger, rougher and more aggressive. It is strange, but I am slowly getting used to it,” said Kim.

The big objective for Korea is, of course, the Olympic Qualification Tournament I, which will take place in Norway and feature the hosts, Brazil and Chile. Only the top two teams will earn a Tokyo 2020 berth.

“I think two or three players from this team can be selected for the Olympic Qualification Tournament. More of them and from younger generations can form the core of the next Korean team that we hope will bring the title in the Asian Men’s Handball Championship in the future,” 

“Since 2012, we have not won the Asian title and we changed a lot of players. We finished second in January 2020, losing the final against Qatar (21:33), and we still have a long way to go to catch them,” added Kang.

Yet despite the plethora of new players, their philosophy stays true to its roots.

“There are no star players in the Korean side, we are a team. There are no players who can be greater than the team. In attack, we always want to play fast, dazzling handball. Unfortunately, defence has always been our main issue, especially when facing strong and powerful players. This is the big challenge, to find answers, yet this is not easy,” concluded the Korean coach. 

Defence has also been the weak point for the Korea at Egypt 2021, as no team has conceded more goals than the Asian team, 157, 39.25 per game.

But can the new generation led by Kim Jin Young become the golden future of Korean handball?

It’s probably a little too early to say. But while coach Kang says the gems must be polished, Kim looks ready to break on the big stage.

One year ago, at the AHF Men’s Asian Championship in Kuwait, Kim was Korea’s top scorer with 33 goals.

He is leading the way again at Egypt 2021, looking impossible to stop even by seasoned defences like Slovenia or the Russian Handball Federation Team.

“If opportunity comes, I want to play in Europe. I must stay in Korea for at least a year, but I would like to try my chances. I hope people will not forget what I did here,” concluded the dazzling 20-year old Korean player.