Meet Team South Korea

2024 Dream Nations Cup Results: 

Did Not Participate

Team South Korea Joins Dream Nations Cup

Team South Korea is joining the Dream Nations Cup field for the event’s second edition. The club will compete in the women’s division and division I of the men’s bracket. Given the nation’s history with ice hockey, the team’s involvement is intriguing.

Though the Dream Nations Cup team is not associated with the Korean national team, it is intrinsically linked to the nation’s hockey culture. Korea’s hockey infrastructure stands out as one of the most developed in this year’s field. Notably, the team is the only one representing a nation with experience at the highest levels of international hockey, having previously competed in the Olympic Games.

The 2018 Winter Olympic Games were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The host nation entered men’s and women’s teams in the games, and the country also boasts impressive hockey facilities. Korea’s experience in the Olympics was inspiring for many at the time, and that inspiration is something the team competing in the Dream Nations Cup hopes to evoke. 

Sang Eun Lee, one of the team’s organizers, spoke to us about the desire to show Koreans opportunities in hockey and connect as a community.

“By having a Korean team at the Dream Nations Cup, I hope we can show players that there are opportunities to represent our country even if you aren’t at the highest level of hockey.” Sang Eun Lee said, “There’s a big Korean community in North America and we can connect with them for the sake of growing hockey in our community.”

The women’s team will consist of North American players with Korean heritage, while the men’s team will consist of a hybrid of amateur players from North America and South Korea. This international makeup of the team reflects a more profound, shared connection through hockey, highlighting the power of sport to bridge cultural and geographic gaps. 

Bridging Gaps and Creating Opportunities

While hockey in Korea saw a lot of investment leading up to the 2018 Olympic Games, that same backing didn’t stay after the conclusion of the final ceremony. At one point, Korea had four professional men’s teams playing in Asia League Ice Hockey, a professional league based in East Asia. Only one of those teams, HL Anyang, remains in operation. 

As such, for Koreans abroad and within the country, ice hockey faces many of the same challenges it does in other places. Lack of funding, opportunities to play, the popularity of different sports and the fairly expensive cost of competing are all barriers to entry into the sport. 

Fortunately, there are also several members of the Korean hockey community working to make the sport more accessible and available to anyone who wants to take part. One crucial initiative to the sport’s growth for women is the Dream League. The Dream League is a women’s hockey league that provides Korean women’s hockey players with opportunities to play and train in their country. Sang Eun Lee founded the league as part of the Olympic Committee Young Leaders program, and the league has grown from six teams to 12 teams since 2022. 

Sang Eun Lee also says many clubs and organizations in Korea are trying to bridge the gap of needing equipment by donating to youth programs and teams so that hockey is accessible to a greater population. Initiatives like the Dream League and the effort to make hockey more affordable will allow more Koreans to play hockey and represent their country across all levels.

The players competing for South Korea in the Dream Nations Cup will have the chance to be a part of that representation and show how the game is growing for Koreans. Sang Eun Lee says the opportunity to represent the team is exciting and crucial for the nation’s development as a hockey culture.

“The players will be pleased to represent Korea in the Dream Nations Cup, and this is an opportunity to show that’s a possibility. People often think that representing their country is only available for the highest level of athletes, but it’s not really about that.” Sang Eun Lee said, “It’s about the willingness to make the country shine and positively represent our country.”

The excitement surrounding the team’s involvement in the Dream Nations Cup mirrors the nation’s enthusiasm towards the future of Korean hockey.

Optimism for Korean Hockey’s Future

While hockey at the highest level has faced challenges following the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, particularly on the men’s side, there remains significant optimism about the future of hockey in Korea. 

With initiatives like the Dream League, women’s hockey in Korea continues to flourish and is set to continue growing. Youth, amateur, and junior participation are also rising for the boy’s side. Sang Eun Lee says there are increasing development opportunities and interest in boys’ junior hockey, setting up a bright future for men’s hockey in South Korea.

Hockey’s growth among Korean youth was fully displayed at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games, hosted in Gangwon, South Korea. The Women’s 3-on-3 hockey team won a silver medal during the games, while the men’s team competed in the traditional 5-on-5 tournament. The results showed the country’s progress with its youth program and highlighted the growing popularity and quality of junior Korean hockey players.

Events like the Dream Nations Cup also provide an occasion to feel optimistic about the sport’s growth. South Korea will have the chance to compete with other countries and cultures that are also developing hockey in their area. Sang Eun Lee says that the mingling of cultures is the most vital and exciting aspect of international events like the Dream Nations Cup.

“I think the coolest thing a sport can do is connect people. Widen perspectives and help learn and embrace the differences and common goals we have for the sport and the world.” Sang Eun Lee said, “It’s the most crucial and fun part of international events. Giving our players the chance to feel the benefits of sport and exchanging cultures as part of it.”

Whether it’s international hockey or the growth of youth hockey in Korea, there’s clearly good reason to be excited about the sport’s future there. 

You can follow Team Korea’s journey on social media. Catch them at the 2025 Dream Nations Cup in New York City from May 27 to June 1.