KY 1-x (WO 4) 2 :Ho 3+ /Yb 3+ yellow phosphors with doping concentrations of Ho 3+ and Yb 3+ (x = Ho 3+ + Yb 3+ , Ho 3+ = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and Yb 3+ = 0.2, 0.45) were successfully prepared using the microwave-modified sol-gel method; their upconversion (UC) photoluminescence properties were investigated in detail. Well-crystallized particles, formed after heat-treatment at 900°C for 16 h, showed a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of 2-5 µm. Under excitation at 980 nm, the UC KY 0.7 (WO 4) 2 :Ho 0.1 Yb 0.2 and KY 0.5 (WO 4) 2 Ho 0.05 Yb 0.45 particles exhibited excellent yellow emissions based on a strong 545-nm emission band in the green region and a very strong 655-nm emission band in the red region. Pump power dependence and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity of the UC emission intensity were evaluated. The spectroscopic properties were examined comparatively using Raman spectroscopy.