At the 2026 Asian Esports Games held at the Jinju Indoor Gymnasium on the 24th, South Korea finished in second place in the fighting game category (Tekken 8, Street Fighter 6, and The King of Fighters XV) after a narrow loss to Japan in the finals.

The fighting game event, featuring Bae Jae-min, Yeon Je-gil, and Lee Gwang-no, was played under a unique format where the three different titles were combined into a single team event. While South Korea secured many wins in The King of Fighters XV, their opponents showed superior performance in Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6.

Q. They ultimately finished as runners-up after the loss to Japan.

Head Coach Kang Sung-hoon: I think this was a great experience to try out a team format before the Asian Games. I am also grateful for the warm welcome we received here in Jinju.

Bae Jae-min: We faced various countries. It was refreshing to play three different games together, though the single-game format made it difficult. I think it must have been entertaining for the viewers. It served as good motivation ahead of the Asian Games.

Yeon Je-gil: I was able to identify my weaknesses. I will work on improving my skills so that we can definitely win next time.

Lee Gwang-no: It was fun. Fighting games are usually individual events, so it was a meaningful and enjoyable experience to compete as a team with players from other titles.

Q. What were the highlights and shortcomings of today?

Bae Jae-min: Fighting games usually don't have single-game formats. It was a shame that it was hard to fully showcase our abilities today because of that. Since fighting games are fast-paced, I think a best-of-three (BO3) format might be better next time. Still, I can see how it would be exciting for the fans.

Yeon Je-gil: I also found the single-game format a bit disappointing. It was different because we had to think faster than usual. But since the opponents were in the same boat, the matches themselves were fun.

Lee Gwang-no: Even with a single-game format, I think it would be better if we played twice, and if it's a tie, we could choose a specific game to decide the winner.

Q. (To Head Coach Kang Sung-hoon) What is your overall assessment?

Head Coach Kang Sung-hoon: Overall, I'm satisfied. Looking back at the Hangzhou Asian Games, it was difficult to gather information. This tournament was positive in that regard, and it was really beneficial to face Japan, a powerhouse in fighting games, in advance. I think we can look forward to even better results in the future.

Q. Are there any strategic differences now that it has shifted to a team format?

Head Coach Kang Sung-hoon: Our biggest goal was to experience the rules. This is the first time these rules have been used in fighting games, so it's new for everyone. We need to get used to the rules and think about strategies suited for single-game matches.

Q. Any final words?

Bae Jae-min: The Nagoya Asian Games are not far off. I will practice hard during the remaining time to ensure we bring home the gold medal.