Tokuda reaches the Gwangju semi-finals as the higher-ranked player at 326, with consecutive straight-set victories over Shiraishi and Kang Ku in recent matches. However, the Japanese player has struggled with consistency, losing three of his last five encounters including two-set defeats to Hsu and Holmgren.

Shin enters this semi-final as a significant underdog at world rank 641, coming off two consecutive straight-set losses to Vrbensky and Huesler. The South Korean player's only recent win came against compatriot S. Shin, but faces a steep challenge against the favored Tokuda.