Korea’s Won Yoon-jong Elected IOC Athletes’ Commission Member, Vows to Speak Up for Athletes Won Yoon-jong, the first Korean winter-sport athlete elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission, pledged to “speak up when needed to protect the rights and interests of all athletes.” Speaking at a news conference Feb. 20 (local time) at Korea House for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, held at Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, Won said, “As an Athletes’ Commission member representing winter sports, I think I can do a good job speaking for t February 21, 2026

Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Women’s Figure Skating Gold, First for U.S. Since 2002 Alysa Liu of the United States, who stepped away from skating because of burnout, climbed to the top of the Olympic podium with a comeback gold in women’s figure skating singles at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Liu won the free skate on Feb. 20 (Korean time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, scoring 150.20 points for a total of 226.79. After placing third in the short program, she delivered a clean free skate to move into first. It was the first Olympic gold for an Americ February 20, 2026

Olympic Big Air Bronze Medalist Yoo Seung-eun Vows to Improve Slopestyle After Missed Runs Yoo Seung-eun, the first South Korean female skier or snowboarder to reach an Olympic podium, said she wants to strengthen her slopestyle performance after winning bronze in her main event, big air. Speaking at a news conference at Korea House in Milan on Feb. 20 (local time), Yoo said, “I feel relieved now that the competition is over,” but added, “I’m disappointed and regretful because I couldn’t land all my runs in slopestyle.” Yoo, a high school student born in 2008, won bronze in February 20, 2026

South Korea’s Lee Seung-hoon reaches Olympic men’s halfpipe final, a first for the country South Korea set a new Olympic milestone in freestyle skiing as Lee Seung-hoon (Korea National Sport University) advanced to the men’s halfpipe final, the first Korean to do so. Lee qualified on Feb. 20 (Korean time) at Livigno Snow Park in Italy at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. He scored 76.00 points and finished 10th, earning one of 12 final berths. Halfpipe is judged on aerial tricks performed while riding up and down a semicylindrical course. In qualifying, ath February 20, 2026

South Korea Speedskating Faces Medal Drought at Milan-Cortina Olympics South Korean speedskating is facing a crisis on the Olympic stage. Long one of the country’s most successful Winter Olympic sports after short track, speedskating has yet to win a medal at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Games, raising the possibility of finishing empty-handed. South Korea’s Olympic speedskating medal history began at the 1992 Albertville Games, when Kim Yoon-man won silver in the men’s 500 meters. Over the next six Olympics, the team added five gold, 10 silver and five February 20, 2026

Entertainer Park Na-rae Questioned by Police as Suspect in Special Injury Case Entertainer Park Na-rae, who has faced allegations of mistreating her managers, appeared at a police station as a suspect. Police said Feb. 20 that Seoul’s Gangnam Police Station began questioning Park at 3 p.m. on allegations including special injury and violations of the Medical Service Act. Park had been scheduled to appear for questioning on Feb. 12 on the same allegations but postponed the date. It was reported to be her first time being questioned by police as a suspect. Earlier, February 20, 2026

Choi Min-jeong Eyes Historic Third Straight Olympic 1,500m Title in Milan South Korean short track star Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) will chase another milestone at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. Choi is scheduled to race in the women’s 1,500 meters at 4:15 a.m. Friday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy. The event will run from the quarterfinals through the semifinals and final on the same day. The medal-deciding final is set for 6:07 a.m. After helping South Korea win gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay, Cho February 20, 2026

Upside-Down South Korean Flag Used Repeatedly at Milan 2026 Short Track Medal Ceremonies It was disclosed after the fact that an incorrect South Korean flag was raised during short track speed skating medal ceremonies at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The organizing committee used a flag with the taegeuk symbol tilted counterclockwise — a design that differs from the official standard — during the women’s 3,000-meter relay medal ceremony held at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Milan, it said on Feb. 19 (Korea time). South Korea won gold in the event after February 20, 2026

Korea’s Top Business Groups Head Into Annual Meetings With Focus on Stability Major South Korean business groups will hold annual general meetings late this month to set business plans and discuss key issues. Attention is on whether Sohn Kyung-shik, chairman of the Korea Employers Federation (KEF), will win a fifth term, and whether the heads of the country’s four largest conglomerates will return to the leadership council of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI). Also in focus is whether the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) will reshuffle executive February 20, 2026

Korean Pharma, Biotech Firms Adjust Treasury Stock Plans Ahead of Commercial Code Revision As a third revision to South Korea’s Commercial Code nears passage, pharmaceutical and biotech companies are moving faster to reorganize their treasury stock holdings. The proposal centers on making treasury stock cancellations mandatory, prompting companies to adjust plans for cancellations or share swaps. Industry officials said the government is pushing a bill that would require newly acquired treasury shares to be canceled within one year, and existing holdings to be canceled after a February 20, 2026