Journalist

Chang Seon-a
  • Choi Min-jeong, Hwang Dae-heon to carry South Korea flag at Milan Olympics closing ceremony
    Choi Min-jeong, Hwang Dae-heon to carry South Korea flag at Milan Olympics closing ceremony Short track skaters Choi Min-jeong (Seongnam City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Office) will carry South Korea’s flag at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics. The International Olympic Committee said the Games will end with the closing ceremony at 4 a.m. on the 23rd (Korea time) at the Verona Arena in Italy. The Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics featured competition for 116 gold medals across 16 events in eight sports. Choi was selected after a standout Olympics in which she won gold in the women’s 3,000-meter relay and added silver in the 1,500 meters. Those results gave her seven career Olympic medals, the most by any South Korean athlete across the Summer and Winter Games, surpassing Jin Jong-oh (shooting), Kim Soo-nyung (archery) and Lee Seung-hoon (speed skating), who each won six. Choi also moved into a tie with Jeon I-kyeong (four golds) for the most Winter Olympic gold medals by a South Korean athlete. Hwang also left his mark, winning silver in the men’s 1,500 meters after a persistent chase and helping South Korea reach the podium in the 5,000-meter relay as the anchor leg. He won medals in both individual and team events. At the opening ceremony, figure skater Cha Jun-hwan (Seoul City Hall) and speed skater Park Ji-woo (Gangwon Provincial Office) served as co-flag bearers.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 05:15:00
  • Speedskater Park Ji-woo vows to keep chasing Olympic mass start medal after 14th-place finish
    Speedskater Park Ji-woo vows to keep chasing Olympic mass start medal after 14th-place finish South Korea’s long-distance speedskating standout Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office missed a medal in the women’s mass start and said she plans to try again in four years. Park placed 14th in the final at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics at the Milan speedskating stadium on Feb. 22 (Korea time). It was her first time reaching the Olympic final, but she did not make the podium. After the race, Park told reporters in the mixed zone, “I’m sorry to deliver a disappointing result to speedskating fans in Korea who supported me,” bowing her head. Park failed to advance past the semifinals at both the 2018 PyeongChang Games and the 2022 Beijing Games. In Beijing, she collided with another skater with two laps remaining, ending her bid to reach the final. This time, she advanced comfortably through the semifinals to make her first final, but fell short of medal contention. “I was worried about fighting for position and where I’d be with one or two laps left,” Park said. “It’s disappointing I couldn’t fix that, but I showed what I could. I have fewer regrets than at PyeongChang and Beijing.” She said Kim Bo-reum contacted her from Korea earlier in the day and offered advice on positioning. “I really wanted to follow in Bo-reum’s footsteps, but it’s a shame I couldn’t show a great performance,” Park said. Kim, who announced her retirement from competition late last year, won silver in the mass start at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, becoming the first South Korean woman to medal in the event at the Games. Park said she intends to keep pursuing an Olympic medal. “The athletes who made the podium today are in their mid-30s, at least eight years older than me,” she said. “I have a real chance to keep challenging in four years and even eight years. I’ll work to reach a higher place at the next Olympics.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 03:12:00
  • Park Ji-woo places 14th in mass start as South Korea ends Olympics without speedskating medal
    Park Ji-woo places 14th in mass start as South Korea ends Olympics without speedskating medal South Korea’s speedskating team finished the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics without a medal, its first medal-less Games since 2002 in Salt Lake City. On Saturday (Korea time), South Korea wrapped up its schedule after failing to reach the podium in both the men’s and women’s mass start finals at the Milan speedskating stadium in Italy. In the women’s mass start, Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office placed 14th in the final. She crossed the line seventh but dropped in the standings after losing points in the intermediate sprint segments. Park advanced to the final by finishing third in the second semifinal heat. She stayed near the back early, then moved up on the outside with two laps remaining, but her time of 8 minutes, 36.31 seconds was not enough for a medal. Lim Ri-won, who is set to enter Korea National Sport University, did not reach the final after placing 10th in the first semifinal heat. Earlier, in the men’s mass start final, Jung Jae-won of Gangwon Provincial Office crossed fifth in 8:04.60 and missed the medals. In mass start, skaters complete 16 laps, with rankings determined by points from intermediate sprints and the finish. The skater who finishes first overall wins gold.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 02:00:00
  • Speedskater Park Ji-woo Reaches Women’s Mass Start Final at Milan Olympics
    Speedskater Park Ji-woo Reaches Women’s Mass Start Final at Milan Olympics South Korean speedskater Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office reached the Olympic women’s mass start final for the first time in her third Games appearance. Park advanced Saturday (Korean time) at the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics, finishing third in the second semifinal heat at the Milan speedskating stadium. She earned 20 sprint points and secured one of the eight final berths awarded in each heat. The mass start is a 16-lap race scored by points at intermediate sprints and at the finish. At laps 4, 8 and 12, the top three skaters receive 3, 2 and 1 sprint points, respectively, and up to 60 points are awarded based on the final placing. Park stayed near the back early before moving into the lead pack with two laps remaining. She closed the race in third place. Park also competed in the mass start at the 2018 Pyeongchang and 2022 Beijing Olympics but did not reach the final. This is her first final appearance in the event. The final is scheduled for 1:15 a.m. Sunday at the same venue. In the first semifinal heat, Lim Ri-won finished 10th and was eliminated.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-22 00:36:00
  • Alysa Liu Wins Olympic Women’s Figure Skating Gold, First for U.S. Since 2002
    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 American in women’s singles since Sarah Hughes at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games, ending a 24-year drought. Liu emerged early as a U.S. figure skating standout. In 2019, at age 13 years, 5 months, she won the U.S. championships to become the youngest champion in event history. In 2018, she drew attention by landing a triple axel in international competition. She placed sixth at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and third at the world championships later that year, but announced a sudden retirement at age 16, citing burnout. She then focused on school and took time away before announcing her return in 2024. After coming back, Liu skated with a looser style, winning the 2025 world championships and the 2025-2026 International Skating Union Grand Prix Final in succession. In Milan, she again looked unburdened as she won over the crowd. After clinching gold, Liu said, “I did the things people told me not to do,” adding, “I hope my story can inspire many people.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 23:30:00
  • Olympic Big Air Bronze Medalist Yoo Seung-eun Vows to Improve Slopestyle After Missed Runs
    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 women’s snowboard big air on Feb. 10, delivering South Korea’s second medal of the Games. It was the country’s third Olympic medal in skiing and snowboarding and the first by a woman. In slopestyle, Yoo qualified for the final in third place, but made mistakes on all three runs and finished last among the 12 finalists. “The moment I remember most is my first run in the big air final,” she said. “In slopestyle, I realized I still have a lot to work on.” She added that she is weaker on rails and thought she “might have finished mid-pack” in slopestyle. Yoo said she reached the Olympics despite suffering ankle and wrist fractures since 2024. “A lot of people around me helped and supported me. I never could have made it here on my own,” she said. On her condition, she said her ankle has recovered, though it can hurt briefly when she takes a hard impact on the board. She said her wrist still makes it difficult to brace directly with her hand, but it does not affect daily life. South Korean snowboarding set a single-Games record for medals, with Kim Sang-gyeom’s silver in men’s parallel giant slalom, Yoo’s bronze in big air and Choi Ga-on’s gold in halfpipe. “I’m not a rider who’s naturally great — I’m someone who works hard,” Yoo said. “Including Ga-on, everyone rides so well and seems really talented.” She said she was impressed watching Choi fall hard on her first run but still execute her third run. “She’s my friend, but I respect her,” Yoo said. Yoo said her preparation focused on big air, with airbag training in Japan. She said she prepared for slopestyle mainly by riding rails for about a month in Italy. “I’ll work to become a rider who can do both well,” she said. Yoo said she had been focused only on this Olympics and had not thought much about what comes next, but added, “At the next Olympics, I’ll practice more so I can show an even better performance.”* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 22:00:00
  • South Korea’s Lee Seung-hoon reaches Olympic men’s halfpipe final, a first for the country
    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, athletes take two runs, with the higher score counting. Lee posted his 76.00 on his first run, linking five tricks smoothly as the 13th skier to start. On his second run, he increased the difficulty but lost balance on the landing of his third jump, leaving his score unchanged. Lee has shown promise internationally. He was runner-up at the 2021 junior world championships and won bronze at a World Cup event in Calgary, Canada, in February 2024 — South Korea’s first freestyle skiing World Cup medal. He also won halfpipe gold at last year’s Harbin Asian Winter Games. The Olympic final is scheduled for 3:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at the same venue.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 21:06:00
  • South Korea Speedskating Faces Medal Drought at Milan-Cortina Olympics
    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 bronze medals. As of the 20th, short track remains South Korea’s top Winter Olympic medal sport (27 gold, 17 silver, 13 bronze), with speedskating traditionally next. At the 2010 Vancouver Games, speedskating won three gold and two silver medals, earning more gold than short track at the same Olympics. But with three days left before the closing ceremony, South Korea still has no speedskating medals in Milan. In the women’s 500 meters, Lee Na-hyeon of Korea National Sport University placed 10th and Kim Min-sun of Uijeongbu City Hall finished 14th. In the men’s 500, prospect Kim Jun-ho of Gangwon Provincial Office placed 12th. Among the remaining events, the most realistic medal hope is Jeong Jae-won of Gangwon Provincial Office in the men’s mass start. He is scheduled to race at 11 p.m. on the 21st at the Milan speedskating stadium. Jeong is a leading national team skater who won silver in team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver in the mass start at the 2022 Beijing Games. In his third Olympics, he is trying to win a medal for a third straight Games. Jeong has shown steady form this season, winning two silver medals in mass start across ISU World Cup stops 1 through 4 in 2025-2026. Cho Seung-min, who is set to enter Korea National Sport University, will also compete in the men’s mass start, along with Park Ji-woo of Gangwon Provincial Office and Lim Ri-won, also set to enter Korea National Sport University, in the women’s mass start. Their medal chances are viewed as relatively lower. If South Korea fails to add a medal, it would mark the team’s first Olympic speedskating medal drought since the 2002 Salt Lake City Games — a span of 24 years. South Korean speedskating won medals at five straight Olympics from the 2006 Turin Games through the 2022 Beijing Games. This year’s results are expected to determine whether that run continues.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 20:06:00
  • Choi Min-jeong Eyes Historic Third Straight Olympic 1,500m Title in Milan
    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, Choi has yet to take gold in an individual event at these Games. The 1,500 meters offers her a chance to finish short track’s final day with a title. The 1,500 is Choi’s signature event. She won it at the 2018 PyeongChang and 2022 Beijing Olympics and enters as the defending champion. No short track skater, male or female, has won the same Olympic individual event three straight times. If Choi wins again, she would be the first. Even including relays, the only three-peat in a single short track event remains South Korea’s women’s 3,000-meter relay, which won four straight from Lillehammer 1994 through Turin 2006. Choi has won four Olympic gold medals and two silvers. She is already tied for South Korea’s most Winter Olympic golds and tied for the most Olympic medals by a South Korean athlete across both the Summer and Winter Games. If she wins the 1,500 again, she would move into sole possession of the South Korean record with seven career Olympic medals. She would also set a new national mark with five Winter Olympic golds, while completing the first three-peat in an Olympic short track individual event. South Korea will also have Kim Gil-li (Seongnam City Hall) and Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall), both members of the relay gold team, in the women’s 1,500. The men’s team will go for gold in the 5,000-meter relay final at 5:30 a.m. Friday, led by Lim Jong-eon (Goyang City Hall) and Hwang Dae-heon (Gangwon Provincial Government), aiming to reclaim the title for the first time in 20 years.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 18:45:00
  • Upside-Down South Korean Flag Used Repeatedly at Milan 2026 Short Track Medal Ceremonies
    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 finishing first in the final. Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li (both Seongnam City Hall), Noh Do-hee (Hwaseong City Hall), Shim Suk-hee (Seoul City Hall) and Lee So-yeon (Sport Toto) stood on the podium. The same incorrect design was also used at three other medal ceremonies: the men’s 1,000 meters on Feb. 13 (Lim Jong-eon, bronze), the men’s 1,500 meters on Feb. 15 (Hwang Dae-heon, silver) and the women’s 1,000 meters on Feb. 16 (Kim Gil-li, bronze). A Korean Sport and Olympic Committee official said Feb. 20 that for each Olympics, the government provides the organizing committee with the official flag file and the national anthem audio, adding, “This was not our mistake.” The official said the committee will decide whether to respond after an internal review.* This article has been translated by AI. 2026-02-20 18:21:00