The Kyungbock High School stars, who came in clutch at the FIBA U18 Asian Cup in August, have their sights set firmly on bigger things.
Twin basketball players Yoon Ji-won and Yoon Ji-hoon pose for photograph during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Kyungbock High School in central Seoul on Sept. 2. KIM KYOUNG-ROK

The future of Korean basketball may be coming as a pair.

Eighteen-year-old fraternal twins Yoon Ji-won and Yoon Ji-hoon may look nearly identical, but on the court, they play the game in very distinct ways.

Older brother Ji-won stands 193 centimeters (6 feet, 2 inches) tall and plays forward, while Ji-hoon is a 188-centimeter-tall guard.

“We've played 22 games this year and won every one except a game we both missed because of the flu,” the brothers said in a recent interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Kyungbock High School in Jongno District, central Seoul.

“We’ve proven that we can compete at the high school level. Now we want to see how we measure up against the best players in college or those in professional ranks.”

Basketball insiders believe both twins already have what it takes to play professionally. Among those taking notice are former basketball legends and current managers Lee Sang-min of KCC Egis, Chun Hee-chul of the Seoul SK Knights and Cho Sang-hyun of the LG Sakers.

Twin basketball players Yoon Ji-won and Yoon Ji-hoon pose for photograph during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Kyungbock High School in central Seoul on Sept. 2. KIM KYOUNG-ROK

The twins made their mark on the international stage at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U18 Asia Cup 2026 in India on Aug. 18. Both played key roles as Korea pulled off a 67-64 comeback over archrival Japan in the group phase.

Japan was widely expected to have the upper hand, with a roster built around taller players.

Instead, the twins helped Korea turn the matchup on its head. Ji-hoon poured in 27 points, while Ji-won finished with 12 points and eight rebounds. The victory came just days after the senior national team lost twice to Japan in back-to-back games.

Ji-hoon scored four crucial points in the final minute of the fourth quarter after Korea fell behind 64-63.

The twins were determined to win. Ji-won battled through a facial injury, continuing to play with a bandage after bleeding.

“After Japan won both games against the Korean senior national team, players on their U18 team posted videos on social media celebrating wildly and taunting us,” Ji-hoon said. “We went into the game telling each other, ‘We have to win this one,’ and that determination paid off.”

Korea’s U18 rode the momentum into the semifinals to finish fourth. 

Twin basketball players Yoon Ji-won and Yoon Ji-hoon pose for photograph during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Kyungbock High School in central Seoul on Sept. 2. KIM KYOUNG-ROK

Basketball runs in the family. Their mother is Jung Hye-min, a 1.82-meter former center on the now-disbanded Shinsegae Cool Cat in the women’s professional league.

Their basketball genes gave them more than size and athleticism. The twins also inherited their mother’s sharp instincts for the game. Through years of relentless work, the twins have become two of Korea’s top high school players.

Twin basketball players Yoon Ji-won and Yoon Ji-hoon pose for photograph during an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo at Kyungbock High School in central Seoul on Sept. 2. KIM KYOUNG ROK

“Neither of them was much of a shooter at first, but they worked at it relentlessly until they turned a weakness into a strength,” Kyungbock High School head coach Lim Seong-in said. “Even in scrimmages against professional reserve teams, the twins dictate the game. They’re often up against much bigger players, but their sense of timing is exceptional.”

The resemblance ends when the game begins. Ji-won calmly reads the game and sets the pace. He excels on both ends of the court and on the boards. Ji-hoon is an attacking player whose scoring ability sets him apart.

“When things aren't going our way, I tell my brother to switch on attack mode, and he'll go out and drop 40 points,” Ji-won said. “He reminds me of shooting guard Jung Dae-man [known as Hisashi Mitsui] from the cartoon ‘Slam Dunk’ [1990-96].”

“My brother reminds me of Yoon Dae-hyup [known as Sendo Akira], an all-around player who stays calm and reads the game,” Ji-hoon said.

The brothers have their sights set on an ambitious legacy: becoming the greatest basketball siblings in Korean history.

“I want people to say we’re better than Heo Ung and Heo Hoon, who won a championship together in the professional league,” Ji-hoon said. “With my brother by my side, I’m confident we can beat anyone.”