The women's coxless pairs rowing competition at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at the Han River Regatta Course in Seoul, Korea.

The Romanian rower Rodica Arba had competed in the event since the 1981 season,[1] and dominated it—with different partners—since the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles,[2] where she won gold with Elena Horvat.

[3] She gained the 1985 World Rowing Championships title with Horvat,[4] and won the 1986 and 1987 World Rowing Championships with Olga Homeghi.

[5][6] Arba and Homeghi were the only team favoured to have a chance of winning the event at the 1988 Olympics.

[4][5][6] Canada were the reigning Pan American champions.