Jessheim 2025: Korea’s Path to Milano Cortina

When the puck drops at the 2025 World Para Ice Hockey Paralympic Winter Games Qualification Tournament, six teams will skate for the final two slots up for grabs at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games. Taking place in Jessheim, Norway from 5-10 November, the tournament will feature: Slovakia, Korea, Norway, Japan, Sweden and Kazakhstan. 

The USA, Canada, Czechia, China and Germany have already secured their tickets to join hosts Italy at the Paralympic Winter Games by finishing in the top five at the A-Pool Worlds. 

Here’s an inside look at Team Korea heading into the Qualification Tournament. 

How they got here

After a challenging but competitive showing at the 2025 World Championships A-Pool, Korea finished seventh, just outside of automatic qualification for Milano Cortina 2026. Despite that, their proven track record on the international stage and strong team cohesion makes them one of the favorites to claim a qualifying spot. 

Over the past decade, Korea has built a reputation for speed, precision, and relentless work ethics. Their program emphasizes high tempo play and rapid transitions, allowing them to compete effectively with the sport’s top nations. With a solid core of veteran leaders complemented by new talent, Team Korea enters Jessheim hungry to return to the Paralympic stage.

Winter Games history

Korea has a consistent presence in international Para ice hockey since making their Paralympic debut at Vancouver 2010. The nation’s defining moment came at PyeongChang 2018, when they captured a historic bronze medal on home ice, marking the country’s first-ever Paralympic medal in the sport. That performance elevated Para ice hockey’s profile in Korea and inspired a new generation of athletes. Since then, Korea has continued to be a fixture in the A-Pool, known for their disciplined defense and fluid offensive systems.

Take note — it’s the road to @milanocortina2026 over five days of competition! ⚡️

The tournament schedule is just below 🧵#ParaIceHockey #Jessheim2025 pic.twitter.com/Na93Z7oW3P

— Para Ice Hockey (@paraicehockey) October 27, 2025

Roster

Forwards: In-Kyum Kim, Seung-Hwan Jung, Jong-Ho Jang, Jun-Yong Lee, Ye-Ha Song, Jee-Hyun Ryu, Se-Ok Park
Defenders: In-Chul Yu, Dong-Shin Jang, Oh-Song Kwon, Si-Woo Choi, Young-Jae Cho, Seok Oh, Yong-Sung Kim
Goaltenders: Dae-Han Bong
Head Coach: Jong-Ho Kim

Keys to Victory 

Korea’s success will hinge on their hallmark speed and structure. Their ability to pressure opponents through aggressive forechecking and quick puck movement has long been a strength, as has their adaptability in special teams' situations. For Korea to secure one of the two coveted Paralympic berths, they’ll need to maintain composure under pressure, convert scoring opportunities, and continue their disciplined defensive play. 

Game Schedule 

Wednesday, 5 November @ 12:00 vs. Japan
Thursday, 6 November @ 15:30 vs. Sweden
Friday, 7 November @ 19:00 vs. Norway
Sunday, 9 November @ 12:00 vs. Kazakhstan
Monday, 10 November @ 15:30 vs. Slovakia