Journalist

Kang Sang-heon
  • South Korea Enters Milan-Cortina Olympic Closing Ceremony With Flag Bearers Choi Min-jeong and Hwang Dae-heon
    South Korea Enters Milan-Cortina Olympic Closing Ceremony With Flag Bearers Choi Min-jeong and Hwang Dae-heon South Korea’s team entered the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics with smiles. The delegation attended the ceremony on Feb. 23 (Korea time) at the Verona Arena in Verona, Italy, bringing the 17-day Games to a close. After the host nation’s flag was raised, Greece’s flag appeared first, followed by participating nations in Italian alphabetical order. As in the opening ceremony, South Korea was announced 22nd. Flag bearers Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Government) walked in together holding the South Korean flag. They made a full lap of the oval stadium before returning to their seats. Choi and Hwang made history in short track at these Games. Choi won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay and silver in the 1,500, setting a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete across the Summer and Winter Games. With seven career medals (four gold, three silver) from Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022 and Milan-Cortina 2026, she surpassed Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six. She also tied Jeon I-kyung (four gold) for the most Winter Olympic gold medals by a South Korean athlete. Hwang won silver in the men’s 5,000-meter relay and the 1,500. It was his third straight Olympics with a medal and his fifth career Olympic medal (one gold, four silver). He tied Lee Ho-suk (one gold, four silver) for the most Olympic medals by a South Korean men’s short track skater. As the athletes’ parade continued, South Korean competitors waved their flags and took in the closing-ceremony atmosphere. Verona, where the closing ceremony was held, is about 160 kilometers from Milan, which hosted the opening ceremony and events including skating and ice hockey. No competitions were held in Verona; only the closing ceremony took place. The 80,000-seat Verona Arena is an amphitheater completed in A.D. 30 during the Roman Empire. It once hosted gladiator contests and wild-animal hunts. It will also serve as the venue for the opening ceremony of the Winter Paralympics, which begin March 6.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 06:09:00
  • U.S. beats Canada in overtime to win men’s Olympic hockey gold for first time since 1980
    U.S. beats Canada in overtime to win men’s Olympic hockey gold for first time since 1980 The United States captured its first Olympic men’s ice hockey gold medal in 46 years, beating Canada 2-1 in overtime in the final of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Games. The Americans won Sunday (Korean time) at Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena in Milan, Italy, sealing the title on a goal by Jack Hughes 1:41 into overtime. The victory gave the United States its first men’s Olympic hockey gold since the 1980 Lake Placid Games and its third gold medal overall in the event. The United States also became the first country in Olympic ice hockey history to win both the men’s and women’s titles at the same Games. In the women’s final on Feb. 20, the Americans also beat Canada 2-1 in overtime to take gold, returning to the top for the first time since the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Canada, which assembled a “dream team” featuring many star players from the NHL, fell short in its bid for a 10th Olympic title. After winning gold at the 2014 Sochi Games, Canada has gone three straight Olympics without gold: bronze in 2018 in Pyeongchang and sixth place in 2022 in Beijing. The matchup drew added attention ahead of the Games amid U.S.-Canada political and economic friction, including disputes over tariffs, with the rivals meeting for Olympic gold in a sport both consider a national strength. The final was tight throughout. The United States struck first when Matt Boldy capitalized on a Canadian defensive mistake 6 minutes into the first period on a counterattack. Canada tied it late in the second period, with 1:44 remaining, after Cale Makar beat the U.S. defense with a powerful shot to make it 1-1. Canada pressed in the third, outshooting the United States 41-26 overall, but the Americans held on to force overtime. It was the third time an Olympic men’s hockey final went to overtime. Hughes ended it early in the extra period, finishing a counterattack to deliver the gold medal.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-23 01:57:00
  • South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won reaches Olympic men’s mass start final, eyes third straight medal
    South Korea’s Jeong Jae-won reaches Olympic men’s mass start final, eyes third straight medal South Korean long-distance speedskater Jeong Jae-won (Gangwon Provincial Office) advanced to the men’s mass start final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Jeong scored 21 points in the semifinal held Feb. 21 (Korea time) at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium in Italy. He placed third among 15 skaters, earning one of the eight spots in the final. In the 16-lap mass start, sprint points of 3, 2 and 1 are awarded to the top three at laps 4, 8 and 12. At the finish, points are awarded as follows: 60 for first, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth, 6 for fifth and 3 for sixth. Jeong picked up 1 point by passing the first scoring mark in third at lap 4, then earned 20 points by finishing third on the final lap. He arrived at the Olympics with momentum after winning two silver medals in the men’s mass start across the first four stops of the International Skating Union’s 2025-26 Speed Skating World Cup season. A medal in this event would give Jeong a third straight Olympic medal. He previously won silver in team pursuit at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and silver in the mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games. The final, which will determine the medals, is scheduled to begin at 12:40 a.m. Feb. 22.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 23:48:00
  • Korea’s Kim Jin-su Four-Man Bobsled Team Sits Eighth After Two Runs at Milan-Cortina Olympics
    Korea’s Kim Jin-su Four-Man Bobsled Team Sits Eighth After Two Runs at Milan-Cortina Olympics South Korea’s men’s four-man bobsled team led by Kim Jin-su is in eighth place after the first two heats at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Kim, with pushers Kim Hyeong-geun and Kim Seon-uk and brakeman Lee Geon-woo, posted a combined time of 1 minute, 49.50 seconds on Saturday (Korean time) at the Cortina Sliding Center in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, ranking eighth among 27 teams. The team was eighth in Heat 1 in 54.60 seconds and recorded the sixth-fastest time in Heat 2 at 54.90. In the same event, the South Korean sled piloted by Seok Yeong-jin, with Lee Do-yoon, Jeon Su-hyeon and Chae Byeong-do, is 23rd after two heats in 1:50.73. In four-man bobsled, the final standings are determined by the combined time across four runs. Kim’s team previously won bronze in the four-man event at the IBSF World Cup season opener in November on this Olympic track. Heats 3 and 4, which will decide the final results, begin at 6 p.m. Feb. 22.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 22:54:00
  • Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Will Be Her Last as Teammates Pay Tribute
    Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Will Be Her Last as Teammates Pay Tribute Short track teammates who trained and lived together while preparing for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics shared messages of support and regret after Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) said she would retire from the Olympics. Choi won silver in the women’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 21 (Korean time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy. The medal was her seventh Olympic medal (four gold, three silver), setting a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete. She surpassed Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speed skating), who each had six. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the race, Choi said it was her Olympic “last dance.” “Thinking this is my last Olympics makes me cry,” she said, adding that the thought stayed with her from the start to the finish. “Even after it ended, all I could think was, ‘This is really the last one.’ I don’t think you’ll see me at the Olympics anymore.” Choi drew a line at retiring from competition altogether. At a news conference at Korea House set up at Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan, she said, “It’s definitely my last Olympics. As for what I’ll do next with the national team or my career, I’ll think it through step by step and sort it out.” Teammates who shared her final Olympic run offered praise and disappointment at her decision. Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall), who won two gold medals and one bronze at these Games, said, “Choi Min-jeong worked so hard as captain. It was an honor to compete on a big stage with her. I think it’ll be an unforgettable memory.” Lee So-yeon (Sports Toto), described as the team’s oldest member, said Choi was “more diligent than anyone.” She said she was moved when Choi cried after the women’s 1,500 final. “I cheered for her because I saw how hard she worked,” Lee said. “I think she could keep going, but I support her choice.” Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall) thanked Choi, saying she must have been busy preparing for individual events but still prioritized the team. “The burden must have been heavy as captain, but thank you for quietly putting in the work,” Shim said. Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall) said she learned of Choi’s decision through an interview article and felt upset. “She’s not the type to show how hard things are,” Noh said. “Seeing her cry and show her emotions made me guess how difficult it must have been.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 22:18:00
  • Olympic snowboard bronze medalist Yoo Seung-eun says it still feels like a dream
    Olympic snowboard bronze medalist Yoo Seung-eun says it still feels like a dream Yoo Seung-eun of Seongbok High School, the first South Korean woman to win an Olympic medal in skiing or snowboarding, returned home wearing her bronze medal from the Milano-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Games. After arriving through Incheon International Airport’s Terminal 2 on the afternoon of the 21st, Yoo told reporters it was an honor just to ride “with the Taegeuk mark” at the Olympics, adding, “It’s an even greater honor that I was able to win a medal.” Yoo placed third with 171 points in the women’s big air final held Feb. 10 (Korea time) at the Livigno Snow Park in Italy. Big air features riders accelerating down a slope of more than 30 meters before launching off a large jump, with scores based on jumps, spins, landings and distance. Big air became an official Olympic event at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. Yoo was the first South Korean woman to compete in the event, and she won a medal in her first Olympic final. She also became the first South Korean to win an Olympic medal in a judged freestyle snowboarding discipline. “I learned a lot through the Olympics, and my confidence went up,” Yoo said. “It was a stage where I could feel and learn a lot about what I do well and what I still lack.” She added, “Honestly, it still feels like I’m dreaming. Even though the Olympics are over, it all feels like a dream.” Born in 2008, Yoo dealt with injuries at a young age. In 2024, she fractured her right ankle and spent more than a year in rehabilitation. After returning, she suffered a wrist fracture as well. She said her condition is now strong, emphasizing, “I’m very healthy. The injuries are almost recovered now.” Asked what she wanted to tell herself after the Olympics, Yoo said, “Good job, and let’s keep working hard.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 18:45:00
  • Norway Sets Winter Olympics Record With 17 Gold Medals at Milan-Cortina 2026
    Norway Sets Winter Olympics Record With 17 Gold Medals at Milan-Cortina 2026 Norway, a winter sports powerhouse, has set a new record for the most gold medals won by a single nation at one Winter Olympics at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Games. Johannes Dale-Skjevdal of Norway won the men’s 15-kilometer biathlon mass start on Feb. 20 (Korea time) at the Antholz biathlon arena in Italy, finishing in 39:17.1. The victory delivered Norway’s 17th gold medal of the Games, breaking the previous single-Winter Olympics record of 16 golds the country set at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Norway’s gold medals so far have come in cross-country skiing (six), biathlon (three), Nordic combined (three), freestyle skiing (two), ski jumping (two) and speedskating (one). Norway also leads the overall medal standings with 17 gold, 10 silver and 10 bronze medals, for 37 total. The United States is second with nine gold, 12 silver and six bronze medals, also totaling 37. With events remaining, Norway is also chasing the single-Games record for total medals. That mark is also held by Norway, set at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics with 39 medals (14 gold, 14 silver, 11 bronze). * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-21 17:30:00
  • Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Were Her Last, Fights Back Tears After Silver
    Choi Min-jeong Says Milan Olympics Were Her Last, Fights Back Tears After Silver Short track star Choi Min-jeong of Seongnam City Hall said she is retiring from the Olympics. Choi won silver in the women’s 1,500 meters short track final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics on Friday (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, finishing second behind Kim Gil-li. The medal was Choi’s seventh individual Olympic medal (four gold, three silver). It set a new record for most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete, surpassing Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speedskating), who each had six. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, Choi said she felt relief after a race with no regrets, but became emotional because it felt like the end. “I feel so relieved, but I’m crying because a lot of emotions are crossing,” she said. “I think I’m crying because it feels like my last Olympics.” Choi said the 1,500 was her Olympic “last dance.” “This is my last Olympics,” she said. “While preparing this season, my knee and ankle weren’t good, and mentally it was really tough.” She added that the thought stayed with her throughout the race and afterward: “I don’t think you’ll see me at the Olympics anymore.” She said she has not decided whether to retire from competition altogether. “Retiring from my career isn’t something I can decide alone,” Choi said, adding that it would require coordination with her team. “I’ve only been thinking about the Olympics. It’s something I need to think about while resting for a while.” Asked why she chose to make this her final Olympics, Choi said the decision came naturally as injuries piled up and it became difficult to regain her best condition. She said she set many records on the Olympic stage and felt she had done everything she could. Looking back on her three Olympics, Choi said the best moment was “right now,” saying she wanted to focus on the good and finish on a positive note. She called Friday’s 1,500 silver her most meaningful medal among the seven. Choi said she hopes fans remember her as an athlete who kept showing how strong South Korean skaters are. She added that with Kim poised to follow in her footsteps, she feels more at ease about taking a break. 2026-02-21 16:45:00
  • Lee Hae-in Places Eighth in Olympic Debut, Finishes in Top 10 in Women’s Figure Skating
    Lee Hae-in Places Eighth in Olympic Debut, Finishes in Top 10 in Women’s Figure Skating Lee Hae-in of Korea University finished in the top 10 in women’s singles figure skating in her first Olympics. Competing at the Milan Ice Skating Arena, Lee scored 74.15 in technical elements and 66.34 in program components for 140.49 in the free skate. With her short program score of 70.07, she totaled 210.56 to place eighth. She became the sixth South Korean to place in the Olympic top 10 in women’s singles, following Kim Yuna (gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver at the 2014 Sochi Games), Choi Da-bin (seventh at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games), You Young (fifth at the 2022 Beijing Games) and Kim Ye-lim (eighth at the 2022 Beijing Games). Lee set season bests in both the free skate and overall total. She surpassed the 132.06 free-skate score and 196.84 total she posted at the ISU Challenger Series Denis Ten Memorial Challenge in October. Her personal bests are 148.57 in the free skate and 225.47 overall, both set at the 2023 Team Trophy. After placing ninth in the short program with a season best, Lee skated 16th in the free. Performing to the opera “Carmen,” she landed a double Axel-triple toe loop combination and a triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination cleanly, along with steady triple Salchow and triple loop jumps. Her flying camel spin earned Level 4, and her choreographic sequence was Level 1. In the second half, she completed a triple Lutz, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a triple flip. She closed with Level 4 marks on her flying change-foot combination spin, step sequence and change-foot combination spin. Shin Jia of Sewha High School, also making her Olympic debut, placed 11th with a free-skate score of 141.02 (75.05 TES, 65.97 PCS). Combined with her short program score of 65.66, she finished with 206.68. Shin bettered her previous official personal best in the free skate of 138.95 from the 2024 ISU World Junior Championships, but fell short of her official personal best total of 212.43. After finishing 14th in the short program on Feb. 18 following a jump error, Shin skated 11th of 24 in the free. Skating to “Liebestraum,” she opened with a clean double Axel, then landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and a triple Salchow. She wobbled on the landing of her triple loop and touched the boards but stayed on her feet. She received Level 3 on her change-foot combination spin, then stayed steady in the second half, which carries a 10% bonus. She completed a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a final triple Lutz. Despite a Level 2 on her flying camel spin, she finished with a Level 4 step sequence, a choreographic sequence and a Level 4 flying change-foot combination spin. The women’s singles gold medal went to American Alysa Liu with 226.79. After placing third in the short program, she moved into first with a free-skate score of 150.20. Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto won silver with 224.90, and Japan’s Ami Nakai took bronze with 219.16.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:51:00
  • South Korea’s Shin Jia sets personal-best free skate at Milan-Cortina Olympics; Lee Hae-in posts season best
    South Korea’s Shin Jia sets personal-best free skate at Milan-Cortina Olympics; Lee Hae-in posts season best South Korea’s women’s singles figure skaters Shin Jia (Sehwa Girls’ High School) and Lee Hae-in (Korea University) delivered strong performances in their first Olympics. Shin scored 141.02 points in the free skate on Feb. 20 (Korea time) at the Milan Ice Skating Arena in Italy, earning 75.05 in technical elements (TES) and 65.97 in program components (PCS). With her short program score of 65.66, she finished with 206.68 overall. Her free-skate score topped her previous official personal best of 138.95 set at the 2024 International Skating Union (ISU) World Junior Championships. She fell just short of her official personal-best total of 212.43. After placing 14th in the short program on Feb. 18 following a jump error, Shin skated 11th among 24 competitors in the free. Performing to “Liebestraum,” she opened with a clean double Axel, then landed a triple Lutz-triple loop combination and a triple Salchow. She wobbled on the landing of a triple loop and touched the boards but stayed on her feet. She completed a change-foot combination spin at Level 3 to close the first half, then remained steady in the bonus second half. Shin landed a triple flip-double toe loop-double loop combination, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a final triple Lutz. She received Level 2 on the flying camel spin but finished with a Level 4 step sequence, a choreo sequence and a Level 4 flying change-foot combination spin. Lee also turned in a composed free skate, scoring 140.49 with 74.15 TES and 66.34 PCS. Combined with her short program score of 70.07, she posted 210.56 overall. The results marked season bests for Lee in both the free skate and total score, surpassing the 132.06 free-skate score and 196.84 total she recorded at the ISU Challenger Series Denis Ten Memorial Challenge last October. Lee’s official personal best in the free skate is 148.57, set at the 2023 Team Trophy, and her personal-best total is 225.47. Lee, who was ninth after the short program with a season-best score, skated 16th in the free. Performing to the opera “Carmen,” she opened with a steady double Axel-triple toe loop combination and followed with a clean triple Lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination. She also landed a triple Salchow and triple loop, then earned Level 4 on the flying camel spin and Level 1 on the choreo sequence. In the second half, Lee completed a triple Lutz, a triple flip-double Axel sequence and a triple flip. She closed with Level 4 marks on the flying change-foot combination spin, step sequence and change-foot combination spin.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 07:06:00