Korean skating news & updates

[On My Own]

Okaaay? Kiss & Cry section is open to all until July 1, IIRC.

From the WTT thread here in GSD:

https://imgur.com/a/3x1RGTw

?

 

[skatingguy]

Because it helps him to stretch himself out in the air and have a better alignment and axis. Without it, it'd be very difficult for him to rotate it even as much as he is currently.

I understand the theory I just don't think it works that well for many skaters in competition. Outside of the Sambo-70 skaters we see skaters struggling to make rotations with these arm positions, and if the jump isn't perfect the arms are in the worst possible position to help save the landing.

 

[On My Own]

Outside of the Sambo-70 skaters we see skaters struggling to make rotations with these arm positions

Well Sambo also pairs it with pre-rotation, so fewer rotations in-air to make in the first place. They also use other tricks like that dreadful "whip-up" technique on their axels to torque themselves as much as possible a la Valieva's 3A. So with them, it works, because they're doing other things as well. Actually, with them, it seems like the arms are a bandaid to all the bad vaulting and low speed into the jumps, and their small bodies which probably also means lower core strength for most of them.

I'd generally agree with you that skaters should drop the arms and just learn how to vault and then rotate properly, especially because Lee does it on a lot of jumps. But I think Lee is also very tall, and I'm not sure the higher quads (like this 4Lo) would be within his reach otherwise.

 

[SHARPIE]

https://imgur.com/a/3x1RGTw

?

I’ve alerted @Server Guy about that.

 

[On My Own]

I’ve alerted @Server Guy about that.

Oh thank you! I didn't realize it was a genuine error, I thought I was simply allowed to read, not reply (which I'd have been fine with). But thank you!

 

[Server Guy]

I’ve alerted @Server Guy about that.

Oh thank you! I didn't realize it was a genuine error, I thought I was simply allowed to read, not reply (which I'd have been fine with). But thank you!

Sorry folks, should be fixed now!

 

[Sylvia]

Sorry folks, should be fixed now!

Thank you @SHARPIE & @Server Guy!

Team Republic of Korea is in 2nd place after Day 1 - links to mixed zone quotes (top 2 point earners embedded below):

https://twitter.com/x/status/1646499942683357184

He for the first time breaks the 100 points! ????
“I am very happy about the score and how I’ve been skating today. Maybe the Lutz-Loop could be a bit cleaner. But I am very pleased with the rest and really enjoyed performing here today so much. This is our first Team ?? World Team.
We were really thinking within our team how we can cheer each other on. Everyone has a different personality and we are trying present that in the Kiss and Cry. It’s so much fun!”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1646459417813041153

“I was not nervous today because all of our team ?? skaters cheered for me and they gave me a lot of good energy. I feel really jouful with my program, I am thankful to them and I am satisfied with my scores.”
About her team Korea drawing: “Everyone really liked it and they thanked me. It took about two hours and after that I couldn’t really feel my hands!” ?

Yelim Kim: https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1646458121915621376
Sihyeong Lee: https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1646472471917338624
Hannah Lim/Ye Quan: https://twitter.com/goldenskate/status/1646424424428498949

Re-posting video links to Team Korea watching their teammates compete on Day 1 (from @airgelaal's posts in the WTT comp. thread in the Kiss & Cry):

Haien (1st place in SP): https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1646539235803922432
Junhwan (2nd place in SP): https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1646496132921524224
Sihyeong: https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1646545969020825606
Yelim: https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1646543586131947524
Hannah & Ye: https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1646525726060085254

 

[Karen-W]

So, Yelim Kim is answering questions on her IG Story today and she says the injury is something pelvic related and she's going to be briefly hospitalized for a minor surgery - yikes!

 

[Sylvia]

So, Yelim Kim is answering questions on her IG Story today

Yelim Kim's last Instagram story 4 hours ago (machine translated):
"Oh yeah and back issues.
It's not a serious problem but I'm going to have a short-term hospitalization and have a simple procedure, so you don't have to worry too much! Thank you for your concern and I'll be back next season healthier and cooler"

 

[Sylvia]

Haien Lee's World Team Trophy photos ("My happiest birthday ever ?" - she turned 18 on April 16, day of EX): https://www.instagram.com/p/CrHwjwXPOzG/

Pair skater Hyejin Cho's WTT photos - Team Korea with silver medal in their debut! https://www.instagram.com/p/CrGXa03rQWJ/ & https://www.instagram.com/p/CrIxMkxrvcb/ (banquet pics with her teammates)

Sihyeong Lee's WTT photos: https://www.instagram.com/p/CrGOoxULj6Q/

 

[Wyliefan]

Poor Yelim, no wonder she's struggled. Hope the surgery goes well and she comes back feeling much better.

 

[Sylvia]

Yelim Kim's last Instagram story 4 hours ago (machine translated):
"Oh yeah and back issues.
It's not a serious problem but I'm going to have a short-term hospitalization and have a simple procedure, so you don't have to worry too much! Thank you for your concern and I'll be back next season healthier and cooler"

Re. Yelim's injury and "simple procedure" - "Adding a note for the people who might not check the responses: it looks like the word used (시술) refers to procedures that don't involve the use of a scalpel, so it's not surgery": https://twitter.com/kteam_subs/status/1648279101013196801
This was in reply to sydthepasserby who had tweeted: "Btw, I think native Korean speakers will hardly say 시술 to refer to surgery. 시술 and 수술 feel very different to me."

 

[Sylvia]

Haien Lee article (April 18):

Figure skater Lee Hae-in has big Olympic dreams

World Figure Skating Championships silver medalist Lee Hae-in has yet to achieve her ultimate dream — competing at the Winter Olympics.

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

Check out her drawings!

 

[Stephanie]

Article on Junhwan Cha from the same publication (published today): https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.co...igure-skating-Medalist/20230420151300698.html

 

[Sylvia]

Jan. 8-9, 2023:

[Korean Nationals] Men's final standings: https://twitter.com/skatingkor/status/1611938862942543872
1 Junhwan Cha 271.21 1 1 (170.17 FS) - 4CC & Worlds (only 1 spot)
2 Hyungyeom Kim 237.23 3 3 (158.63) - Junior Worlds (only 1 spot)
3 Minkyu Seo 235.90 4 2 (159.00)
4 Sihyeong Lee 230.74 2 5 (148.77) 4CC
5 Jaeseok Kyeong 223.41 5 4 (150.35) 4CC

Is anyone else disappointed that Minkyu isn't going to Junior worlds? I would have sent Hyungyeom Kim to 4CC instead, but Korea's incredibly laborious ranking competition process means that Hyungyeom can't be sent to 4CC, as that has already been decided by a prior competition.

If you compare their international results, Minkyu has also been incredibly consistent, always scoring in the 220 range.

Hopefully Korea will have more male spots next year and won't be stuck in such a difficult position, but I think I'm getting to be a Minkyu fan, and I think his results also speak for themselves.

Hyungyeom Kim's 6th place at Junior Worlds gained a 2nd men's spot for next year.

@zebobes & other fans of Minkyu Seo, age 14 (his ISU bio: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00113854.htm), here's a 10-minute MBS Korea feature on him in which his new programs are revealed, along with on and off ice training clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbyap3f9eV4

https://twitter.com/tegomass/status/1648633475585458176

SP: Flower Dance
FS: Notre Dame de Paris
Choreography by Patrick Chan (and wife Elizabeth again?)

 

[zebobes]

Thank you, @Sylvia for sharing Minkyu's update! While we don't get an extended peek at the program, I thought it was interesting they were watching Patrick perform the choreography on a video. I wonder if the choreography is all done online, or if he has a chance to work with Patrick directly.

Also, it looks like Minkyu is having a growth spurt, he looks much taller than last year.

 

[japanice]

[ICE TIME] Haein Lee, Jun Hwan Cha Impress at World Team Trophy | SportsLook

With strong performances at the World Team Trophy and world championships, the South Korean standouts have displayed their abilities and raised expectations.

featured.japan-forward.com

 

[Frau Muller]

Not skating…but Korea!
There’s a State Dinner tonight honoring the South Korean head of state at the US White House. Little preview:

Crabcakes, ribs, banana splits for South Korea state dinner at the White House

Jill Biden enlisted Korean American celebrity chef Edward Lee to add his special flair. His specialty is the intersection of American cuisine with Korean flavors.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Sylvia]

World Team Trophy vlogs!

Pair skater Hye Jin Cho - My first ever international competition was my 2nd competition?!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J5SYpPfo2jo

Hannah Lim's WTT vlog part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYH9B-EABI0

Hello everyone! This team trophy competition was such a fun experience! Cheering with team Korea made me the happiest and when we were on the ice, I could hear our teammates screams the loudest ? I am so grateful for this opportunity~ I hope you enjoy the vlog ?

 

[Sylvia]

Lee Hae-in on resurgent season, World Team Trophy, Yuna Kim & more by Nick McCarvel and Shintaro Kano (April 28): https://olympics.com/en/news/world-team-trophy-figure-skating-win-lee-haein-season-korea-yuna-kim

There is still the want, Lee admitted, to get her triple Axel back, while also going after bigger jumps – and bigger goals.
“Deep in my heart, I really want to do difficult jumps... quadruple toe or something else,” Lee said. “But I'm not ready for it yet I think. So, I just only work on my triple Axel for next season.”
...
“I want to get a medal [on the] Grand Prix Series and I want to compete at the Grand Prix Final,” Lee said plainly, calling out two accomplishments she’s yet to achieve in her career.

 

[On My Own]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654872535589109764

Well that was fun.

 

[Wyliefan]

It seems Korean pairs have an even shorter shelf life than Japanese dance teams.

 

[skatfan]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654872535589109764

Well that was fun.

Dang. At least they will always have the team bronze at WTT!

 

[tony]

Dang. At least they will always have the team bronze at WTT!

Silver, in fact, with two great programs.

 

[skatfan]

Silver, in fact, with two great programs.

Duh, how could I have forgotten so soon

 

[Karen-W]

Goodness gracious! That's a quick end to what I thought was a rather promising partnership. And certainly doesn't help Korea's chances at an Olympic TE medal in 2026.

 

[karmena]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1654872535589109764

Well that was fun.

I hope this eventually will work for the very best to Cho.

 

[On My Own]

Goodness gracious! That's a quick end to what I thought was a rather promising partnership. And certainly doesn't help Korea's chances at an Olympic TE medal in 2026.

I think for now you should assume Korea only has the singles. Ice Dance also might end up with citizenship issues right?

 

[Karen-W]

I think for now you should assume Korea only has the singles. Ice Dance also might end up with citizenship issues tight?

I think that's been indicated, but, hopefully, now that they won the silver at Jr Worlds, the KSF will help expedite Ye Quan's citizenship process.

 

[Samurina]

I think that's been indicated, but, hopefully, now that they won the silver at Jr Worlds, the KSF will help expedite Ye Quan's citizenship process.

They gave Gamelin citizenship for far fewer accolades.