The South Korean duo of Lee Yong-seok and Baek Hye-jin continued their winning streak at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Paralympics, showcasing an impressive performance against Japan where they secured a decisive victory with a score of 9-0. Competing in the curling Olympic stadium in Cortina, Italy, they managed to keep their opponents scoreless throughout the match, demonstrating exceptional skill and strategy. Their successful run followed an earlier loss to the host nation Italy, placing them back on track with wins over the UK and Japan.

In a match characterized by strong tactical play, the Korean team took control from the very beginning, scoring regularly in each end of the game. They accumulated points steadily, achieving an 8-0 lead by the end of the 5th end before adding one more point in the 6th end, leading the Japanese team to concede the match. This victory against Japan not only boosts their morale but also improves their standings in the tournament, where they now sit alongside Estonia and the USA in a tie for second place.

Post-match, both Lee Yong-seok and Baek Hye-jin praised each other for their contributions to the win, emphasizing teamwork and strategic communication. The next challenge for the South Korean pair is a match against China, which will be crucial for their continued success in the round-robin format of the competition. As this category, the mixed doubles in wheelchair curling is newly established as an official event in this tournament, the attention and stakes are significantly higher for all participating teams.