Korean skating news & updates

[Karen-W]

The disciplinary action against Haein Lee & Young You has officially been cancelled and the lawsuit resolved through mediation.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1954538381481791836

 

[On My Own]

Is Cha injured?? It was never good, but the way he's bending down before he vaults into the 4S and 4T is more noticeable than before. Or it's supposed to help him "focus" idk.

ETA: Seriously lacks the speed towards the end of the SP for the music. Placing that combo spin there is a mistake, especially when he's doing it out of transitions that lead to a camel position.

 

[Willin]

Is Cha injured?? It was never good, but the way he's bending down before he vaults into the 4S and 4T is more noticeable than before. Or it's supposed to help him "focus" idk.

ETA: Seriously lacks the speed towards the end of the SP for the music. Placing that combo spin there is a mistake, especially when he's doing it out of transitions that lead to a camel position.

He's been struggling since he left Orser. While he has had injuries contribute, I do think his coaches in Korea have changed his technique for the worse.

 

[clairecloutier]

The ISU has an article about Yujae Kim and Yuseong Kim, fraternal twin sisters who have qualified for the JGP Final:

The Kim twins Yujae and Yuseong: Double power on and off the ice

It is not that unusual that siblings compete in Figure Skating. There are many successful brother-and-sister-teams in Ice Dance or Pair Skating, sometimes they are even twins. Some of these teams have also made it to the ISU Junior Grand Prix Final or ISU Grand Prix Final. But only once before...

isu-skating.com

P.S. I should probably add that some fans on Twitter have called out the ISU recently for posting AI content with errors and/or poor writing, so I can't vouch for this article, but hopefully it is giving some correct info (?).

 

[Sylvia]

Seniors will compete at 2026 Korean Nationals on Saturday & Sunday, January 3-4, followed by the Juniors on Jan. 5-6 - competition thread in Kiss & Cry section: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/th...re-skating-championships-jan-3-6-2026.113474/

Dec. 2025 JGP Final results:
Minkyu Seo won the Junior Men's gold (255.91, 171.09 in FS - both ISU PBs) and Habin Choi was 6th (200.70).
Yuseong Kim won the Junior Women's silver (198.66), 3rd in FS (134.60), and her twin Yujae Kim was 4th (195.38), 2nd in FS (135.36).

Top singles results from the Korean Ranking Competition in late November 2025: https://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/threads/korean-ranking-competition-nov-27-30-2025.113352/

Senior Men top 8 (of 10):
Minkyu Seo 262.84 (177.13 in FS)
Junhwan Cha 255.72 (172.81)
Habin Choi 250.37
Hyungyeom Kim 231.51
Jaekeun Lee 219.15
Sihyeong Lee 208.30
Younghyun Cha 202.30

Senior Women top 8 (of 29):
Jia Shin 216.20 (144.14 in FS)
Yujae Kim 204.99
Chaeyeon Kim 201.78
Seojin Youn 201.65
Haien Lee 195.80
Yuseong Kim 188.86
Jiyu Huh 183.05
Ahsun Yun 179.74
... 10 Young You 176.87 ... 17 Seoyoung Kim 162.09

2006 4CC assignments were based on the Ranking comp. results of those age-eligible with CTES minimums:

Ice Dance: Hannah Lim/Ye Quan
Men: Junhwan Cha, Hyungyeom Kim, Jaekeun Lee
Women: Jia Shin, Chaeyeon Kim, Haein Lee

Men's alternates: Sihyeong Lee, Younghyun Cha
Women's alternates: Ahsun Yun, Young You, Seoyoung Kim

 

[Sylvia]

[Interview] The Melodies of Life Drawn by Figure Skating Choreographer SHIN Yea-ji (https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00006265.htm), an Artist on Ice (Dec. 31, 2025):

[인터뷰] 은반 위의 예술가, 피겨 안무가 신예지가 그려내는 인생의 선율

피겨스케이팅 안무를 지도 중인 신예지 | 사진 = 박지민 피겨스케이팅은 스포츠인 동시에 예술이다. 차가운 은반 위에서 선수는 극한의 기술을 수행하지만,

mfocus.kr

Auto-translated excerpts:

That earnest and profound sincerity ultimately moved the master's heart. Frank Carroll conveyed an unforgettable sincerity to Shin Yea-ji.
"You're a really smart kid. If you learn from your experiences, reflect on them, and continue to do so, you'll become a truly great person. Whatever your failures, learn from them and never lose your faith."
To a young girl who lacked confidence in her own potential, those fleeting words from a legendary mentor she'd never heard before were more than mere praise. They became a milestone in Shin Ye-ji's life, a source of strength that continues to this day. Shin Ye-ji, even in her shaky moments, cherished these words, shaping who she is today. Later, when she embarked on a new life as a coach and choreographer, he unwaveringly reassured her, saying, "This will be a very difficult journey. But even if you are swept away by those waves, you will overcome them."

But Shin Yea-ji's time as a player wasn't always glamorous. A serious foot injury suffered in 2004 continued to plague her, and in 2006, she faced a personal ordeal with her father's absence. Ultimately, after just two seasons, she had to wrap up her time in the US and return to Korea. Shin Yea-ji confessed, "The years from 2004 to 2009 were truly the worst for me."
What kept her from collapsing during this profound ordeal was the two pillars of support that stood by her side: her mother and Coach Ji Hyun-jung.
Coach Ji Hyun-jung constantly encouraged her frustrated student, saying, "You can overcome this. You can do it. You can do it." On days when training wasn't going well, her teacher's words of comfort, "These difficult times will give you more experience and knowledge, and make you a better person. It's important to lead these times well so they don't go to waste," helped Shin Yea-ji regain her balance. Her mother, too, was firm yet warm, swaying her daughter back to her feet. She held her hand, saying, "Let's see it through to the end." When Shin Ye-ji struggled with injuries and poor performance, she encouraged her daughter, saying, "Comparing yourself to others isn't everything," turning her focus from the outside to the inside.
Amidst the dedication of those who believed in her, Shin Yea-ji once again laced up her skates. Focusing solely on herself and pouring in her hard work, she achieved the valuable feat of winning the 2006/2007 President's Cup Ranking Competition and placing fourth at the Universiade.
And in the following season, Shin Yea-ji's latent talent as a choreographer begins to shine.

"Jun-Hwan [CHA]'s program, from the 2008/2009 season, was the first piece I ever gave to another athlete. I'll never forget the first time I met him. His eyes were so bright, I thought, 'Oh my, what a beautiful child!' I was so grateful for that. He created a comfortable environment, which allowed me to perform the choreography more naturally."

ETA:

"It's important to consider how well the program can be executed within the athlete's capabilities and what image to create. A program that successfully leads the program and wins with a clean performance leaves an impression. And in such programs, the athlete gains more confidence and can perform better. The choreographer must prioritize the athlete and ensure they demonstrate excellent performance and ability. That's the choreography's job."
Shin Yea-ji's philosophy shines through in her exceptional powers of observation. Her process is so systematic and meticulous that domestic and international observers have remarked, "Her work process is far more detailed than others." This meticulousness is at the heart of Shin Yea-ji's "athlete-tailored choreography," and is the result of her observation. Beyond technical elements, she meticulously incorporates the athlete's background and unique characteristics into her work. She suggests inspiration based on the athlete's image, and finalizes the choreography after a lengthy process of coordination with the coaching staff, the athlete, and their parents.
A representative example is Shin Ji-a's 2022/2023 season free skate, <Tree of Life Suite>.
"Jia is from Busan, so the image of the 'sea' came to mind there. I thought about the meaning of the sea in Jia's life and added the imagination of 'the sea guiding Jia and spreading out into the world' and 'the sea sweeping up giant waves, making Jia shine brighter and attracting attention from people around the world', and I incorporated the magnificent wave movements into the choreography. Jia might not know this (laughs), but this is the scenario I created to capture the image of Jia, who bravely moves forward despite being separated from her family."
"I don't think Jia would think that way," he added, but one thing is clear: Shin Yea-ji's unique methodology is to "create a grand narrative by imagining the individual backgrounds of the players and then convey it to the players."

 

[Sylvia]

Sihyeong Lee, 25 (https://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054720.htm), announced his retirement earlier today (1/13/26):

이시형 (Sihyeong Lee) on Instagram: "조금은 늦은 초등학교 4학년에 시작해 저의 인생의 전부이자 그 자체였던 선수 생활을 이제 마무리하려고 합니다. 지금까지 올 수 있었던 건 스케이트를 좋아하고 사랑했던 제 마음과, 저를 사랑과 응원으로 가르쳐 주신 많은 선생님들, 마지막까지 저를 이끌어 주신 최형경 선생님, 저의 꿈을 지원해 주신 많은 분들, 저의 스케이팅을 사랑해 주신 분들, 그리고 부족한 저를 지금까지 뒷바라지해

sihyeong__lee on January 13, 2026: "조금은 늦은 초등학교 4학년에 시작해 저의 인생의 전부이자 그 자체였던 선수 생활을 이제 마무리하려고 합니다. 지금까지 올 수 있었던 건 스케이트를 좋아하고 사랑했던 제 마음과, 저를 사랑과 응원으로 가르쳐 주신 많은 선생님들, 마지막까지 저를 이끌어 주신 최형경 선생님, 저의 꿈을 지원해 주신 많은 분들, 저의 스케이팅을 사랑해 주신 분들, 그리고 부족한 저를 지금까지 뒷바라지해 주신 어머니 덕분입니다. 그동안 함께해 주신 많은 분들께 진심으로 감사의...

www.instagram.com

Auto-translation:
Little late start to fourth grade of elementary school
All of my life and has been
I'm about to finish my player life now.

What I could come so far
With my heart who loved and loved to skate,
Many teachers who taught me with love and support,
Teacher Choi Hyung Kyung who led me until the end.
Thank you so much for supporting my dream,
For those who love my skating,

And thanks to my mother who raised me up to now.

To many of you who have been with me
I want to express my sincere gratitude.

So the end is another beginning,
I will try to live a life where I can give as much love as I receive.

2010–2026
Thank you for everything you have done.

 

[Sylvia]

Recent articles in English:

Jan. 4 (2 versions):

Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan headed to 3rd consecutive Olympics - The Korea Times

Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan will compete at his third consecutive Winter Olympics next month in Italy. Cha won the men's singles title at the 80th N...

www.koreatimes.co.kr

(3rd LD) Figure skater Cha Jun-hwan headed to 3rd consecutive Olympics | Yonhap News Agency

(ATTN: ADDS comments in paras 20-22, 28-31)By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- Figur...

en.yna.co.kr

2026 Olympic team: Cha Jun-hwan, Kim Hyun-gyeom; Shin Ji-a, Lee Hae-in; Hannah Lim and Quan Ye

Jan. 6 - Haien Lee:

Figure skater hoping to move crowd to tears at Olympics | Yonhap News Agency

By Yoo Jee-ho SEOUL, Jan. 6 (Yonhap) -- After completing a performance that ultimately s...

en.yna.co.kr

Jan. 7:

Olympic veterans, first-timers looking to push each other at Winter Games | Yonhap News Agency

By Yoo Jee-ho JINCHEON, South Korea, Jan. 7 (Yonhap) -- Still only 24 years old, figure ...

en.yna.co.kr

 

[Sylvia]

Copying over from the Korean Nationals competition thread in Kiss & Cry:

Men's Final Results
Placement Name SP FS Total
1 Junhwan Cha 97.50 180.34 277.84
2 Minkyu Seo 91.54 177.77 269.31
3 Habin Choi 85.96 172.22 258.18
4 Hyungyeom Kim 79.60 156.14 235.74
5 Sihyeong Lee 78.78 154.52 233.30
6 Jaekeun Lee 77.72 151.64 229.36
7 Younghyun Cha 64.74 144.74 209.48
8 Aaron Kim 58.66 112.57 171.23
9 Donghan Yu 62.00 105.89 167.89
10 Jaewook Chung 54.47 107.85 162.32

Olympic & World Team Combined Scores from Ranking Competition & Nationals -
Name Ranking Comp Score Nationals Score Combined Score
1 Junhwan Cha 255.72 277.84 533.56
2 Hyungyeom Kim 231.51 235.74 467.25
3 Jaekeun Lee 219.15 229.36 448.51
4 Sihyeong Lee 208.30 233.30 441.60
5 Younghyun Cha 202.30 209.48 411.78

Women's Final Results -

Name SP FS Total
1 Jia Shin 74.43 145.46 219.89
2 Yuseong Kim 68.25 144.58 212.83
3 Jiyu Huh 66.92 133.81 200.73
4 Yujae Kim 64.98 134.76 199.74
5 Haein Lee 66.38 129.62 196.00
6 Seojin Youn 66.47 121.35 187.82
7 Nayeon Ko 64.91 119.14 184.05
8 Young You 60.11 122.98 183.09
9 Chaeyeon Kim 64.06 118.53 182.59
10 Seoyoung Kim 63.19 115.69 178.88
11 Ahsun Yun 58.42 120.39 178.81
12 Hyewon Joo 54.50 115.58 170.08
13 Subeen Jeong 58.39 107.12 165.51
14 Harin Jang 53.01 111.64 164.65
15 Hyowon Lee 55.13 107.23 162.36
16 Jeongyul Hwang 49.73 110.47 160.20
17 Geonhee Kim 52.47 106.15 158.62
18 Jiyu Kim 48.51 105.13 153.64
19 Minsong Kim 47.78 103.41 151.19
20 Hayoung Park 50.01 90.85 140.86
21 Doi Cha 56.83 83.98 140.81
22 Eunbi Park 49.65 91.04 140.69
23 Gyuri Lee 46.22 94.09 140.31
24 Hyorin Lee 51.39 79.84 131.23
25 Eun Lee 43.47 75.38 118.85
26 Nayeong Yu 35.61 76.10 111.71

Olympic & Worlds Team Selection -
Name Ranking Comp Score Nationals Score Combined Score
1 Jia Shin 216.20 219.89 436.09
2 Haein Lee 195.80 196.00 391.80
3 Chaeyeon Kim 201.78 182.59 384.37
4 Seoyoung Kim 182.09 178.88 360.97
5 Young You 176.87 183.09 359.96
6 Ahsun Yun 179.74 178.81 358.55

Ice Dance Final Results -

Name RD FD Total
1 Hannah Lim / Ye Quan 77.47 110.82 188.29

Olympic & Worlds Team Selection
Name Ranking Comp Score Nationals Score Combined Score
1 Hannah Lim / Ye Quan 187.00 188.29 375.29

Team for 4CC (based on the Ranking Competition results only):
MEN
Junhwan CHA KOR
Hyungyeom KIM KOR
Jaekeun LEE KOR
Younghyun CHA KOR S [2nd alt.]
Sihyeong LEE KOR S [1st alt.]

WOMEN
Chaeyeon KIM KOR - replaced by Ahsun YUN yesterday (no reason known yet for Chaeyeon's WD)
Haein LEE KOR
Jia SHIN KOR
Seoyoung KIM KOR S [3rd alt.]
Young YOU KOR S [2nd alt.]
Ahsun YUN KOR S [1st alt.]

ICE DANCE
Hannah LIM / Ye QUAN KOR

Team for Junior Worlds (based on Nationals results):
Men (3): Minkyu SEO, Habin CHOI, Jaekeun LEE
Women (2): Yuseong KIM, Jiyu HUH

 

[Karen-W]

Cross-posting this -

Junhwan Cha has abandoned his "Moulin Rouge" FS and gone back to least season's FS.

https://x.com/i/status/2011772127066931712

 

[Karen-W]

Junhwan Cha has been selected as one of Korea's flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony!

밀라노 올림픽 개회식 기수에 피겨 차준환·빙속 박지우

m.sports.naver.com