South Korea competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, from 13 to 29 August 2004. This was the nation's fourteenth appearance at the Olympics, attending every Summer Olympics held during the country's existence up to that point with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow because of its support for the United States-led boycott. The Korean Olympic Committee sent the nation's smallest delegation to the Games since 1992. A total of 264 athletes, 145 men and 119 women, competed in 25 sports.
South Korea left Athens with a total of 30 medals (9 golds, 12 silver, and 9 bronze), finishing ninth in the overall medal standings. Four of these medals were awarded to the athletes in archery, badminton, and taekwondo (South Korea's traditional martial art), and three each in judo, shooting, and table tennis. South Korea's team-based athletes proved successful in Athens as the women's handball team climbed the podium with a silver medal for the second time, following its major setback in Sydney from a fourth-place finish.
Among the nation's medalists were taekwondo jin Moon Dae-sung in the men's super heavyweight division, archer Park Sung-hyun in both women's individual and team event, artistic gymnasts Kim Dae-eun and Yang Tae-young in the men's individual all-around, and trap shooter Lee Bo-Na.
Both North Korea and South Korea marched together in the parade of nations during the opening and closing ceremonies under the Unification Flag, a white flag showing the united Korean Peninsula in blue. They had two flagbearers carrying the flag together at each occasion, one representing the North and the other representing the South. The female athletes and staff wore red blazers, while their male counterparts wore blue. Although they marched together, the teams competed separately and had separate medal tallies.
Medalists
| style="text-align:left; width:72%; vertical-align:top;"| Medal Name Sport Event Date Lee Won-hee Judo Men's 73 kg Park Sung-hyun Archery Women's individual Lee Sung-jinPark Sung-hyunYun Mi-jin Archery Women's team Ha Tae-kwonKim Dong-moon Badminton Men's doubles Im Dong-hyunJang Yong-hoPark Kyung-mo Archery Men's team Ryu Seung-min Table tennis Men's singles Jang Ji-won Taekwondo Women's 57 kg Jung Ji-hyun Wrestling Men's Greco-Roman 60 kg Moon Dae-sung Taekwondo Men's +80 kg Jin Jong-oh Shooting Men's 50 m pistol Lee Sung-jin Archery Women's individual Kim Dae-eun Gymnastics Men's individual all-around Lee Bo-na Shooting Women's double trap Lee Bae-young Weightlifting Men's 69 kg Jang Sung-ho Judo Men's 100 kg Lee Dong-sooYoo Yong-sung Badminton Men's doubles Lee Eun-silSeok Eun-mi Table tennis Women's doubles Shon Seung-mo Badminton Men's singles Jang Mi-ran Weightlifting Women's +75 kg Moon Eui-jae Wrestling Men's freestyle 84 kg Handball Women's tournament Choi Min-ho Judo Men's 60 kg Lee Bo-na Shooting Women's trap Yang Tae-young Gymnastics Men's individual all-around Lee Kyung-wonRa Kyung-min Badminton Women's doubles Kim Kyung-ah Table tennis Women's singles Song Myeong-seob Taekwondo Men's 68 kg Hwang Kyung-seon Taekwondo Women's 67 kg Jo Seok-hwan Boxing Featherweight Kim Jung-joo Boxing Welterweight | style="text-align:left; width:23%; vertical-align:top;"|
Medals by sportSport TotalArchery 3104Taekwondo 2024Badminton 1214Judo 1113Table tennis 1113Wrestling 1012Shooting 0213Weightlifting 0202Gymnastics 0112Handball 0101Boxing 0022Total912930
Archery
Three South Korean archers qualified each for the men's and women's individual archery, and a spot each for both men's and women's teams.
Men AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / ScoreSeedOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankIm Dong-hyunIndividual687 WR1 W 152–109W 171–159 W 167–165L 110–111Did not advanceJang Yong-ho6715W 162–131W 166–163L 112–113Did not advancePark Kyung-mo6724W 154–138W 164 (20)–164 (19)W 173–166L 111–112Did not advanceIm Dong-hyunJang Yong-hoPark Kyung-moTeam20301colspan=2 W 250–249W 242–239W 251–245
Women AthleteEventRanking roundRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal / ScoreSeedOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankLee Sung-jinIndividual6752W 164–127W 166–146W 165–154W 104–103W 104–98L 108–110Park Sung-hyun682 WR1W 154–102W 165–148W 171–159W 111–101W 110–100W 110–108Yun Mi-jin6733W 162–155W 173–149W 168–162L 105–107Did not advanceLee Sung-jinPark Sung-hyunYun Mi-jinTeam2030 WR1colspan=2 W 244–232W 249–234W 241–240
Athletics
South Korean athletes have so far achieved qualifying standards in the following athletics events (up to a maximum of 3 athletes in each event at the 'A' Standard, and 1 at the 'B' Standard).
Men Track & road events AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalResultRankResultRankResultRankResultRankJi Young-joonMarathoncolspan=6 2:16.1417Kim Dong-young50 km walkcolspan=6 4:05:16 27Lee Bong-juMarathoncolspan=6 2:15.3314Lee Dae-ro20 km walkcolspan=6 1:28:59 33Lee Jae-hoon800 m1:46.243colspan=2 Did not advanceLee Myong-seungMarathoncolspan=6 2:21:0141Park Chil-sung20 km walkcolspan=6 1:32:41 41Park Tae-kyong110 m hurdles13.967Did not advanceShin Il-yong20 km walkcolspan=6 1:28:02 29
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionKim Yoo-sukPole vault5.30=33Did not advancePark Hyung-junTriple jump15.8439Did not advancePark Jae-myongJavelin throw72.70 29Did not advance
Women Track & road events AthleteEventFinalResultRankChoi Kyung-heeMarathon2:44:05 35Chung Yun-hee2:38:5723Kim Mi-jung20 km walkLee Eun-jungMarathon2:37:23 19
Field events AthleteEventQualificationFinalDistancePositionDistancePositionChang Jung-yeonJavelin throw53.9336Did not advanceLee Mi-youngShot put16.35 28Did not advance
Badminton
Men AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankLee Hyun-ilSinglesW 15–3, 15–2L 13–15, 11–15Did not advancePark Tae-sangW 15–12, 15–0W 15–11, 15–12L 13–15, 4–15Did not advanceShon Seung-moW 15–12, 15–3W 15–9, 15–4W 10–15, 15–4, 15–10W 15–6, 9–15, 15–9L 8–15, 7–15Ha Tae-kwonKim Dong-moonDoublesW 15–9, 15–2W 15–7, 15–11W 15–8, 15–2W 15–11, 15–4Kim Yong-hyunYim Bang-eunW 7–15, 15–6, 15–12L 1–15, 10–15Did not advanceLee Dong-sooYoo Yong-sungW 15–3, 15–9W 15–11, 15–10W 11–15, 15–11, 15–9W 9–15, 15–5, 15–3L 11–15, 4–15
Women AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankJun Jae-younSinglesW 11–4, 11–5L 11–3, 6–11, 4–11Did not advanceSeo Yoon-heeW 11–6, 6–11, 11–7L 11–7, 5–11, 8–11Did not advanceHwang Yu-miLee Hyo-jungDoublesW 15–13, 8–15, 15–5L 15–13, 8–15, 15–5Did not advanceLee Kyung-wonRa Kyung-minW 15–8, 15–8W 15–2, 15–2L 6–15, 4–15W 10–15, 15–9, 15–7
Mixed AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / OppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreOppositionScoreRankKim Dong-moonRa Kyung-minDoubles W 15–4, 15–6L 14–17, 8–15Did not advanceKim Yong-hyunLee Hyo-jungL 15–6, 12–15, 13–15Did not advance
Basketball
Women's tournament
Roster
Group play
Classification match (11th–12th place)
Boxing
South Korea sent seven boxers to Athens. They returned with two bronze medals, putting them in a four-way tie for 12th place in the boxing medal count. Three lost their round of 32 bouts, while the other four all won in the round of 16 to advance to the quarterfinals. Two more fell there, with the remaining two losing in the semifinals to finish with bronze medals. The combined record of the Korean team was 9-7.
AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultOppositionResultRankHong Moo-wonLight flyweightW W 45–25L 11–30Did not advanceKim Ki-sukFlyweightL 12–22Did not advanceKim Won-ilBantamweightL Did not advanceJo Seok-hwanFeatherweightW 37–28W 28–16W 39–35L 25–45Did not advanceBaik Jong-subLightweightW 30–23W 33–22L Did not advanceKim Jung-jooWelterweightW 23–20W 25–23L 10–38Did not advanceSong Hak-sungLight heavyweightL 19–25Did not advance
Cycling
Road AthleteEventTimeRankHan Song-heeWomen's road race3:40:4351
Track Sprint AthleteEventQualificationRound 1Repechage 1Round 2Repechage 2QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalTimeSpeed (km/h)RankOppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)OppositionTimeSpeed (km/h)RankKim Chi-bumMen's sprint10.67367.45915L L Did not advanceYang Hee-chun10.95565.72317L L Did not advance
Keirin AthleteEvent1st roundRepechage2nd roundFinalRankRankRankRankHong Suk-hwanMen's keirin6 R3Did not advanceYang Hee-chun7 R5Did not advance
Omnium AthleteEventPointsLapsRankKim Yong-miWomen's points race−19−216
Equestrian
Show jumping AthleteHorseEventQualificationFinalTotalRound 1Round 2Round 3Round ARound BPenaltiesRankPenaltiesTotal RankPenaltiesTotal RankPenaltiesRankPenaltiesTotalRankPenaltiesRankHwang Soon-wonC. ChapIndividual6=4291539 Q621=33 Q8=12 Q16 24222422Joo Jung-hyunEpsom Gesmeray14=661327=59 Q1027=51 Q8=12 QEliminated8=25Sohn Bong-gakCim Christo5=312126=55 Q531=44 Q510 Q1318151815Woo Jung-hoSeven Up6=42814=38 Q163043Did not advanceHwang Soon-wonJoo Jung-hyunSohn Bong-gakWoo Jung-hoSee aboveTeamcolspan=8 3010 Q21519518
Fencing
Twelve South Korean fencers (six men and six women) qualified for the following categories:
Men AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankLee Sang-yupIndividual épéeW 15–11L 5–15Did not advanceChoi Byung-chulIndividual foilW 15–12L 10–15Did not advanceHa Chang-dukW 15–13L 6–15Did not advancePark Hee-kyungW 15–13L 13–15Did not advanceChoi Byung-chulHa Chang-dukKim Woon-sungPark Hee-kyung Team foilcolspan=3 L 36–45Classification semi-finalL 40–457th place finalW 45–357Oh Eun-seokIndividual sabreL 13–15Did not advance
Women AthleteEventRound of 64Round of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalSemifinalFinal / Opposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreOpposition ScoreRankKim Hee-jeongIndividual épéeW 9–7W 14–9L 9–15Did not advanceKim Mi-jungL 9–15Did not advanceLee Keum-namL 14–15Did not advanceGo Jung-namKim Hee-jeongKim Mi-jungLee Keum-nam Team épéecolspan=3 L 31–37Classification semi-finalL 33–407th place finalW 44–307Nam Hyun-heeIndividual foilW 15–6W 15–7L 5–15Did not advanceLee Shin-miIndividual sabreL 13–15Did not advance
Field hockey
Men's tournament
Roster
Group play
5th–8th place match
7th place match
Women's tournament
Roster
Group play
5th–8th place match
7th place match
Football
Men's tournament
Roster
Group play
Quarterfinals
Gymnastics
Artistic Men Team AthleteEventQualificationFinalApparatusTotalRankApparatusTotalRankCho Seong-minTeam8.6009.6129.4129.650colspan=3 Did not competeKim Dae-eun9.4379.5379.7009.6009.0759.46256.81111 Q8.8629.7129.5629.525colspan=3 Kim Dong-hwa9.4629.7009.3259.525colspan=2 colspan=2 9.750colspan=2 9.575colspan=2 Kim Seung-il8.7758.8009.4379.6129.700colspan=2 9.6009.6009.4259.5259.575colspan=2 Lee Sun-sung9.1379.6259.4259.712colspan=2 9.587colspan=3 9.525colspan=2 Yang Tae-young9.7009.6259.6259.6509.5879.73757.9242 Q9.6759.4509.6379.5759.687colspan=3 Total36.51237.76138.65038.09938.27438.674227.9707 Q28.13728.63729.09928.56228.73728.675274.3754
Individual finals AthleteEventApparatusTotalRankKim Dae-eunAll-around9.6509.5379.7129.4129.7759.72557.811Yang Tae-young9.5129.6509.7259.7009.7129.47557.774
Women AthleteEventQualificationFinalApparatusTotalRankApparatusTotalRankPark Kyung-ahAll-around8.5127.9377.4377.81231.69862Did not advance
Handball
Men's tournament
Roster
Group play
Quarterfinals
Classification semifinal (5th–8th place)
7th place match