Hankook & Company Group wraps up para-badminton league for third consecutive year

Hankook & Company Group announced Tuesday that the 2026 Hankook Donggeurami Partners Para-Badminton League, which the group sponsors, concluded Sunday at Yeongam Indoor Gymnasium in South Jeolla Province.

This year's league ran across three rounds: the first from May 21 to 24 at Taean General Indoor Gymnasium in South Chungcheong Province, the second from July 16 to 19 at Geumsan-gun General Gymnasium, also in South Chungcheong Province, and the final round in Yeongam. The Korea Para-Badminton Association organized and hosted the league, with Hankook & Company Group and the Korea Paralympic Committee among its sponsors.

The final round, held over four days beginning Thursday, drew more than 200 players and club members from across the country, who competed in singles, mixed team and recreational divisions. An awards ceremony and closing event were held on the last day, Sunday.

Based on cumulative scores from all three rounds, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province topped the overall singles standings with 175 points, while Gyeonggi Province led the recreational division with 154 points. In the mixed team competition, the Incheon Para-Badminton Association claimed first place in the ST League with 26 points, Jeonnam Gogonghaengchin won the WH League with 17 points, and Dolharubam took the DB League with 24 points.

Hankook & Company Group first sponsored a national para-badminton event — the Hankook Donggeurami Partners National Para-Badminton Tournament — held at Sejong Citizens' Gymnasium in November 2024. Starting in 2025, the event expanded into a full national league open to both professional players and recreational participants, and the group has continued its sponsorship for three consecutive years through this year.

Hankook Donggeurami Partners also used para-badminton to promote disability awareness in the workplace. On Oct. 28, it co-hosted an on-court disability awareness education session with the Korea Employment Agency for Persons with Disabilities at the agency's headquarters, combining legally mandated training with a wheelchair badminton experience tailored to employees with disabilities.

"The para-badminton league has grown into a nationwide stage where players and club members can consistently showcase their skills and connect with one another," a Hankook & Company Group official said. "We will continue to strengthen the foundation for social participation by people with disabilities through a range of corporate social responsibility activities, including job creation and disability awareness initiatives."

Hankook & Company Group carries out its disability sports sponsorship and other social contribution activities under its integrated ESG brand, "Driving Forward Together."

Hankook Donggeurami Partners, the group's subsidiary-type sheltered workshop for workers with disabilities, was established in 2015 to create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It currently employs more than 160 staff across 10 worksites, providing services within the group that include office administration, laundry, bakery, café and car wash operations.

Meanwhile, three of Hankook & Company Group's core affiliates — Hanon Systems, Hankook Tire & Technology (Hankook Tire) and others — recently operated a joint exhibition booth at AAPEX 2026, a global automotive parts trade show held in Las Vegas.