South Korea, as Korea, competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. 42 competitors (32 men and 10 women), took part in 24 events in 8 sports.
Medalists
Archery
In the first modern archery competition at the Olympics, South Korea entered three women. Their highest placing competitor was Kim Ho-gu, at 7th place in the women's competition.
Women's Individual Competition: Kim Ho-gu - 2369 points (7th place) Ju Chun-sam - 2349 points (12th place) Kim Hyang-min - 2275 points (20th place)
Athletics
Men's High Jump
Park Sang-soo
Qualification Round — 2.00m (→ did not advance)
Men's 4 × 100 m Relay
Lee Chung-ping, Soo Wen-ho, Chen Chin-lung, and Chen Ming-chih
Heat — 41.78s (→ did not advance)
Women's Shot Put
Paik Ok-ja
Qualification Round — 15.78m (→ did not advance)
Women's Discus Throw
Paik Ok-ja
Qualification Round — DNS (→ did not advance)
Boxing
Men's Light Middleweight (–71 kg) Jae Keun-lim First Round — Bye Second Round — Defeated Namchal Tsendaiush (MGL), 3:2 Third Round — Lost to Rolando Garbey (CUB), TKO-2
Judo
Shooting
Five male shooters represented South Korea in 1972. Open
Swimming
Men's 400 m freestyle: Cho Oh-ryun - Heat: 4:21.78 (did not advance)
Men's 1500 m freestyle
Cho Oh-ryun - Heat: 17:29.23 (did not advance)
Volleyball
Men's: 7th place
Roster: Choi Jong-ok, Chung Dong-kee, Jin Jun-tak, Kang Man-soo, Kim Chung-han, Kim Kun-bong, Kim Kyui-hwan, Lee Chun-pio, Lee In, Lee Sun-koo, Lee Yong-kwan, and Park Kee-won Preliminary round: 2-3 Semi–Final: Lost to Romania (0-3) Final: Defeated Brazil (3-0)
Women's: 4th place
Roster: Jo Hea-jung, Kim Eun-hui, Kim Young-ja, Lee In-sook, Lee Jung-ja, Lee Kyung-ai, Lee Kyung-sook, Lee Soon-bok, Yoon Young-nae, Yu Jung-hye, and Yu Kyung-hwa Preliminary round: 2-1 Semi–Final: Lost to Japan (0-3) Final: Lost to D.P.R. Korea (0-3)
Weightlifting
Lightweight: Won Shin-hee - 427.5 kg (7th place)