Living the PyeongChang Dream: Korean skaters strive toward 2018

[Sylvia]

I'm starting a new news/articles/updates thread for Korean skaters...

Feature article on Jin Seo KIM, who will turn 18 on November 29: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2014/11/518_167446.html
Excerpts:

Two-time national champion Kim Jin-seo is hoping to be the first Korean man to show that Korean men, not just women, can do some serious figure skating too. He has his sights firmly on entering the men’s event at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. No Korean man has ever competed at the men’s figure skating portion at the Olympics since the early 1990s.

The Korea Times met the 18-year-old at the Taereung International Skating Rink, outskirt of Seoul, where he was busy training before making his senior grand prix debut at the Cup of China from Nov. 7 to 9.

Given his relatively short six-year career as a skater, he has shown rapid advance. However, Kim said the quick progress on the contrary has resulted in a shortcoming _ weakness in basic skills.

“As I picked up jumping skills in the early years of my training, I failed to pay a lot of attention in more basic but essential aspects, such as skating. Of course, jump is important, but I should improve stroking skills to show more prudent and masculine skating,” he said. “I think I'm still far away from my ideal image of a skater, who really enjoy the sport and impart that joy to audiences.”

 

[Sylvia]

Korean skaters making their Senior Grand Prix debut this fall:

So Youn Park (Skate America, 5th & Rostelecom Cup)
Hae Jin Kim (Skate Canada-added as alternate, 9th & Cup of China)
Jin Seo Kim (China-added as alternate, NHK)
Rebeka KIM / Kirill MINOV (Rostelecom, TEB - both assignments added as alternates)
Their ISU bio says they are coached by Irina Zhuk and Alexander Svinin in Moscow: http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00054325.htm

Re-posting from other threads:

It appears that June Hyoung Lee (who won JGP Courchevel) and Jin Seo Kim (silver at Asian Trophy) are both in good form already in August, which will likely make the competition for the 1 available Senior Worlds spot fierce all season.

June Hyoung Lee has also qualified for the Junior Grand Prix Final in Barcelona. It'll be interesting to see how to Korean federation chooses between either him or Jin Seo Kim for the Senior Worlds vs. Junior Worlds selection (both are still age eligible for Junior Worlds).

Both men have had very good early season showings and currently are #24 and #29 on the ISU Season Best total scores list:
24) 207.34 Jin Seo KIM KOR O. Nepela Trophy 2014 (silver)
29) 203.92 June Hyoung LEE KOR ISU JGP Croatia Cup 2014 (qualified for JGP Final)

 

[Sylvia]

Rebeka Kim/Kirill Minov scored 53.28 in their Short Dance (major improvement from their 38.61 season debut at Nebelhorn in September) to place 4th in the Volvo Open Cup Challenger event in Riga, Latvia yesterday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6M0ZSbQoD0

ETA that they won the bronze medal today (their first senior international medal):

3 Rebeka KIM / Kirill MINOV KOR 132.86 4 3 (79.58) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v69VQbBPYM0

 

[Sylvia]

So Youn Park article: http://www.goldenskate.com/2014/12/so-youn-park/

The four-time and current national silver medalist debuted on the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating this season and finished fifth at both Skate America and Rostelecom Cup.
...
Park, who enjoys playing the piano in the little spare time she has, is trains in Seoul. Yuna Kim, who is studying at the university now, comes once or twice a week to the rink when her busy schedule allows it to work with the young skaters on choreography and expression, as Park revealed.
...
Park has set her goals for the season: “I am looking forward to the Four Continents Championships in Korea and I want to do well there. At Worlds, I want to be in the top ten again so that I can get two Grand Prix events next season.”

 

[Sylvia]

Young skaters (Park So-youn, Kim Hae-jin and Kim Jin-seo) show promise at Grand Prix (Dec. 16, 2014): http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2014/12/136_169979.html

Park, Kim Hae-jin and Kim Jin-seo are to appear in the 2015 Four Continents Figure Skating Championships to take place at the Mokdong Ice Rink in Seoul from Feb. 12 through 15.

Google translated excerpt from Ingo Steuer's latest interview re. creating Korean pair teams (German article is linked here: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...tdorf-steuer-in-fl.91925/page-33#post-4420308 ):

In early November I started in Florida, create two new pairs. You will be the first to show their short programs. For the construction of the time was very short, because these runners had been no experience in the couple. Two girls were flown in from Korea, then followed a trial with several boys - left are an Italian and a Brazilian. With these couples I work since intense.

How did this project?
Already a half years ago, the Koreans have approached me. They wanted me to help them build pairs for the Olympic Games in 2018 in their country. For them, there is indeed top singles runner, but the couple running it have a clue. In ice dancing, they build well on foreign aid. During the championships there are talks with the Korean Association of precise modalities.

ETA: Can someone provide links to info for 2015 Korean Nationals (January 7-9)? Link to the event thread in Kiss and Cry: http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...outh-korean-nationals-jan-7-9-in-seoul.94452/

 

[sammyf]

Here is a photo of the two new teams and D/F and D/C. Nice to see D/C training hopefully her ankle has healed https://www.facebook.com/luizmanell...419979054./813839372013470/?type=1&permPage=1

You can watch videos of Luiz Manella and Hwi Choi here https://pt-br.facebook.com/luizmanella

 

[Sylvia]

You can watch videos of Luiz Manella and Hwi Choi here https://pt-br.facebook.com/luizmanella

Thank you, sammyf! The two newly-formed Korean pairs working with Steuer are Hwi Choi & Brazil's Luiz Manella and Yu-jin Jung & Italy's Luca Demattè (he skated with Giulia Foresti last season). They are scheduled to skate demonstrations at Korean Nationals.

 

[Sylvia]

The two newly-formed Korean pairs working with Steuer are Hwi Choi & Brazil's Luiz Manella and Yu-jin Jung & Italy's Luca Demattè (he skated with Giulia Foresti last season). They are scheduled to skate demonstrations at Korean Nationals.

Found a Korean news report link on Twitter that shows Ingo Steuer coaching Jung/Demattè in Korea (she is interviewed - can anyone translate/summarize?): http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/NewsView.do?SEARCH_NEWS_CODE=2995450&ref=A
There's also an all-Korean dance team shown and interviewed (names?).

 

[Sylvia]

A talented youngster who finally will be ISU Junior age-eligible (13 by July 1st) in 2015-16 is Jun-Hwan CHA. He won the 2013 Korean Junior Men's title and placed 5th in his Senior debut at 2014 Nationals (5th in SP, 3rd in FS, 184.38 total). I believe he spent some time last spring/summer training with Rafael Arutunian's group in Artesia, CA. This past fall, Cha competed at 2014 Merano Cup in Italy and easily won Advanced Novice Boys (134.84) - his SP (2A, 3F+2T, 3Lz): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bcIPuyukAM

Here's his Senior Men's FS (117.76) to the Shine film soundtrack/Rachmaninoff from a Korean competition last week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM7ND-Rbmds
He planned 8 triples and landed 3Lz+3T, 3A fall, 3F-half loop-3S, 3Lo, 3Lz, waltz jump (intended 2A), 3F, 2A+2T. His next competition will be Nationals next weekend.

 

[Seerek]

A talented youngster who finally will be ISU Junior age-eligible (13 by July 1st) in 2015-16 is Jun-Hwan CHA. He won the 2013 Korean Junior Men's title and placed 5th in his Senior debut at 2014 Nationals (5th in SP, 3rd in FS, 184.38 total). I believe he spent some time last spring/summer training with Rafael Arutunian's group in Artesia, CA. This past fall, Cha competed at 2014 Merano Cup in Italy and easily won Advanced Novice Boys (134.84) - his SP (2A, 3F+2T, 3Lz): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bcIPuyukAM

Here's his Senior Men's FS (117.76) to the Shine film soundtrack/Rachmaninoff from a Korean competition last week: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YM7ND-Rbmds
He planned 8 triples and landed 3Lz+3T, 3A fall, 3F-half loop-3S, 3Lo, 3Lz, waltz jump (intended 2A), 3F, 2A+2T. His next competition will be Nationals next weekend.

I think the key item to point out would be that Cha would then just make Olympic age eligibility for 2018. The dynamics of the selection process should South Korea have only 1 male singles entrant will be very interesting.

It's likely Jin Seo Kim and Hyeon Jung Lee will be going back and forth as #1 for the next three seasons only to have Cha potentially sneak in the Olympic year and nab the Olympic spot away in his first year if senior eligibility.

 

[sammyf]

Found a Korean news report link on Twitter that shows Ingo Steuer coaching Jung/Demattè in Korea (she is interviewed - can anyone translate/summarize?): http://news.kbs.co.kr/news/NewsView.do?SEARCH_NEWS_CODE=2995450&ref=A
There's also an all-Korean dance team shown and interviewed (names?).

HoJung LEE / Richard Kangln KAM skated at Talinn Trophy http://data.tallinntrophy.eu/2014/TTR_Int/CAT014RS.HTM you can watch here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-UA00wZMzg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-lILRRxNwg&feature=youtu.be

They train in Vancouver with Wing/Lowe http://www.vancouvericedance.com/leekam/
Looks like the teamed up in October and were at their international only 2 months later.

 

[breathesgelatin]

New article in Korea Times: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2015/01/136_171128.html

 

[breathesgelatin]

Korean news clip featuring Ingo, Luca, and Yu-jin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dxCmqvXX5Y
Luca and Yu-jin's official practice at Korea Nationals: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6k9HXAVwFdI

Also I believe Junior Ladies SPs (or some of them at least) from Korean Nationals are posted here: http://live.sports.media.daum.net/video/general/108684

 

[rosewood]

With search word "figure" on S Korean equivalents of Yahoo/Goole. These links will keep you up with the latest S Korean figure skating news.
Naver http://news.search.naver.com/search.naver?ie=utf8&where=news&query=피겨&sort=1&sm=tab_smr
Daum http://search.daum.net/search?w=news&cluster=n&q=피겨&sort=1

 

[Catherine M]

This might have been asked earlier but I'm just curious if any of these non-Korean male skaters will be able to get citizenship in time to compete in 2018?!

 

[pingu]

This might have been asked earlier but I'm just curious if any of these non-Korean male skaters will be able to get citizenship in time to compete in 2018?!

I'll ask Luca next week in case there won't be an answer from any FSUer earlier.

 

[Sylvia]

2015 Korean Nationals thread in Kiss and Cry (for those with access who can help with results): http://www.fsuniverse.net/forum/ind...outh-korean-nationals-jan-7-9-in-seoul.94452/

Nationals article in English about Wednesday's events: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2015/01/136_171319.html

ETA:

TV report on Senior Ladies SP: https://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=174177
So-youn PARK leads (60.40), Da-bin CHOI is in 2nd. "Park is over 10 points ahead of rival and three-time Nationals winner Kim Hae-jin heading into the free skate on day two."

 

[Seerek]

Final Nationals Results

Senior Men

1. June hyoung Lee
2. Jin seo Kim
3. Jun hwan Cha

Senior Ladies

1. So Youn Park
2. Da bin Choi
3. So Hyun An

 

[kwanatic]

Wow, what happen to Hae-Jin? She didn't even make the podium...

 

[Sylvia]

Article recapping the Sr. ladies/men: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/sports/2015/01/136_171459.html

Park [So Youn] ended rival Kim Hae-jin’s dominance at the 2015 Korea Figure Skating Championships, earning 113.99 points in the free skate for a combined short-free score of 174.39. Park also outskated Choi Da-bin, 15, by 13.59 points, and An So-hyun who finished third with 157.42.

Fourth place in the free skating wasn’t enough to pull defending champion Kim onto the podium ― she finished fifth with 152.86.

Senior Men's final results via Twitter (top 4):
1 June Hyoung LEE 209.90
2 Jin Seo KIM 197.84
3 Jun Hwan CHA 181.13
4 Min Seok KIM 177.14

 

[Josh78]

Kwanatic..I found video of Hae-Jin's short program...I'm not sure what (if anything) was wrong, but she just seemed slow and uninspired..She had an unfortunate mistake, going for a 3toe/3toe combination and coming down WELL short of rotation on the second jump (surely downgraded), her solo 3lutz also looked like it might have been slightly under-rotated, but hard to tell... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRn8I1-N_xg She only scored 50.21 and was at LEAST only 7th (if not lower) after the short program, and I'm assuming her problems just continued in the free skate (wasn't able to find video of that yet)

 

[pingu]

This might have been asked earlier but I'm just curious if any of these non-Korean male skaters will be able to get citizenship in time to compete in 2018?!

The answer I was given is that they are granted citizenship if they qualify for the Olympic games.

 

[Sylvia]

Tweeted yesterday: https://twitter.com/LynnRutherford/status/555146491351019520

Pair Yu-jin Jung & Italian partner Luca Demattè, who skated at Korean nationals, have split. Demattè is in Korea looking for new partner.

Hearsay I read over at GS is that Hwi Choi and Luiz Manella did not make the trip to Korea to skate at Nationals so their current status is unclear to me.

 

[Josh78]

Kwanatic (and anyone else interested) here is video of Hae-jin Kim's Gershwin FS, I got distracted for a few days and didn't even think about checking Youtube again, but just found it today...Really confused and befuddled by what must have happened to her in the score..maybe she got a glut of hidden under-rotation calls that prevented her from rallying high enough in the free skate to finish on the podium overall (to my eye, I didn't see ONE, so I don't really know, maybe other skaters were faster, with better PCS..it must have been shocking to her..we don't get to see her Kiss and Cry reaction...because the crowd thought it was a great skate and she had an emotional reaction thinking she did very well): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UqkCLGmjCM

 

[kwanatic]

Thanks for the videos Josh.

It was obvious the jumps in her SP were not working, but I agree with you: I only saw one clear UR in the FS. The other two triples she did in the bonus may have been borderline, but they looked clean to me.

 

[seabm7]

I just checked the protocol of Haejin's FP. She had two UR calls in the FS. The second triple Lutz and the final 2Lo of the 3-jump combination. She does not have either 3-3 or 2A-3T in the free skating, so she has disadvantage compared to the other girls, who can do both of them.

Here is the protocol:

http://www.skating.or.kr/download/download.do?fileName=3rd.zip&dir=game

 

[Josh78]

I slowed down (as best I could) the video during each of the two jumps that seabm7 referenced as being dinged for under-rotations...I was totally skeptical, but sadly both were just SLIGHTLY under (her toepick hits the ice just a nanosecond before she completes the final revolutions)..just a bit more power on the takeoff and/or even a half an inch more height and I'm sure she would have gotten them both. Too bad, but she's young and hopefully can see what she needs to work on and comes back strong next year!

 

[Seerek]

4CC results

Men

15. Jin Seo Kim
18. June Hyoung Lee
23. Se Jong Byun

The key result here is that national silver medalist Kim beat national champion Lee by almost 20 points overall. I'm assuming that it's Lee that's going to Senior Worlds, so hopefully he's in better form by then or he won't make the free skate cut. 16 year old Byun got his first glimpse in Senior competition.


Ladies

9. So Youn Park
11. Hae Jin Kim
13. Song Joo Chea

So Youn not making much headway in threatening the top flight though the opportunity was certainly there if she had skated cleaner in the free skate. It'll be iffy whether or not So Youn can make top 12 at Worlds to keep 2 spots (way too many skaters around her current level). Hae Jin was fairly clean by her usual standards for this year, however the judges actually gave higher component scores to Song Joo (who improved greatly since Lombardia in October). Good to see Song Joo have an experience at 4 Continents, but it's likely she'll be overtaken by others when they become age eligible.

 

[Spun Silver]

How old is Song Joo, and does she have problems with her jumping technique? I thought she was lovely, but her takeoffs seemed odd.

 

[Seerek]

World Junior Championship results

Men

9. Jin Seo Kim

Ladies

9. Da Bin Choi
30. Eun Su Yoon

Ice Dance

19. Ho-Jung Lee/Richard Kam


I think top 10 in both singles events was a good result though perhaps a slight step back for Kim and Choi.

Kim dropped from 4th after the short program, and had slightly better long programs at Ondrej Nepela and Four Continents. This was a first time appearance at Junior Worlds for Kim after 2 appearances at Senior Worlds (16th in 2014).

Choi was 6th at 2014 Junior Worlds with a higher total score than she achieved over the weekend. She is however eligible for Senior Worlds starting next season.

The good news is that 2 ladies spots for Junior Worlds was retained, and an extra men's berth was gained (perhaps providing Jun Hwan Cha a first glimpse at International competition starting next season).