Korea’s sports world was all but wiped out during the Korean War. But the Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul was completed in 1963 to spark the growth of indoor sports in Korea and in 1965 Taeneung Athletes Village, the training center for the members of the national teams, opened its doors to speed up the country’s sports development by producing top-caliber athletes. This was also around when Korean athletes started playing in international games and joining foreign teams. Then the successful hosting of the 1986 Asia Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games set Korea on the path toward the world stage in the 1990s. The last decade of the 20th century was marked by ace pitcher Park Chan-ho playing for the L.A. Dodgers in the Major League Baseball and female pro golfer Pak Se-ri going on to win several LPGA titles and finally entering the Golf Hall of Fame. A number of sports stars emerged in the 21st century, the most notable being figure skating champion Kim Yuna, who set a world record for the highest score in women's single on her way to the Olympic title. Having started at the fringe of the sports world, Korea grew to stand shoulder to shoulder with leading sports nations around the world. Now Korean athletes have left indelible marks in a wide range of events, such as figure skating, golf, and rhythmic gymnastics.
