Hwang finished with a time of 2:12.30 to take silver, just behind Jens van't Wout of the Netherlands, who clocked 2:12.22. Latvia's Roberts Krūzbergs, who clocked 2:12.37, took bronze.
In a chaotic final in Assago, northern Italy, nine skaters battled from the opening lap, but Hwang hung back, biding his time. With just five laps remaining, three skaters fell. Hwang seized the moment, moving into second place. On the final lap, he made his move for the lead but came up just short, crossing the line in second.
It was his second consecutive medal in the 1,500 meters, after winning gold at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, securing his fourth Olympic medal overall.
"I'm very grateful to those who believed in me and supported me," said Hwang after the race. "I also want to say thank you to my family."
With Hwang's silver-medal finish, South Korea now has five medals overall, following snowboarders Kim Sang-gyeom, who won silver in the men's parallel giant slalom; Yoo Seung-eun, who took bronze in the women's big air; Choi Ga-on, who claimed gold in the women's halfpipe; and skater Rim Jong-un, who earned bronze in the men's 1,000 meters in short-track speed skating.
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