Former competitive figure skater and now global K-pop idol SUNGHOON of ENHYPEN has officially completed one of the most symbolic journeys of his life.
On February 5 (local time), SUNGHOON participated as an official torchbearer for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The area near Milan’s Bolivar Station was packed with global fans who gathered to witness his historic run.
“The Olympics used to be my first dream as an athlete. I may not be competing, but representing Korea as an idol is a true honor.”
And that sentence alone tells you everything about his journey.
From 10 Years on Ice to the Global Stage
Before debuting in ENHYPEN, SUNGHOON trained for nearly a decade as a men’s singles figure skater. He was even part of Korea’s national reserve team and competed internationally.
In the 2015–2016 season, under his birth name Park Sung-hoon, he won the novice men’s title at the ISU Lombardia Trophy — a major achievement for a young skater.
He officially retired from competitive skating in 2019. Just one year later, after being cast through audition footage of his skating, he debuted through the survival program I-LAND, becoming a member of ENHYPEN.
At a press conference held at Korea House after the torch relay, SUNGHOON shared:
“I was cast through my figure skating videos. In a way, figure skating made me an idol.”
His athletic discipline later led him to serve as an ambassador for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee as well.
Bond with Olympic Skaters Cha Jun-hwan & Kim Hyun-gyeom
SUNGHOON maintains close friendships with Korea’s two men’s singles representatives at the 2026 Games.
Cha Jun-hwan
He described Cha as a senior and role model during his skating days:
“Jun-hwan hyung is like a ‘hexagon player’ — excellent in every aspect.”
Cha is aiming to secure Korea’s first-ever Olympic medal in men’s figure skating this year.
Kim Hyun-gyeom
For younger skater Kim, SUNGHOON passed down one of his own costumes — a striking red blouse that Kim wore during the 2023–2024 national team selection.
“Hyun-gyeom has always worked incredibly hard. I believed he would reach the Olympics one day.”
For Kim, this marks his first Olympic appearance.
A Different Kind of Olympic Dream
Though he is no longer competing on ice, SUNGHOON says this moment feels like achieving his Olympic dream in another way.
“I’m happy to share this Olympic journey with everyone. So many ENGENEs came, and I felt the passion of sports fans too. I believe I’ve achieved my Olympic dream.”
From national-level skater…
To survival show trainee…
To global K-pop icon…
To Olympic torchbearer.
Few stories capture perseverance quite like this one.
Why This Matters for Global Fans
- It highlights the growing intersection between sports diplomacy and K-pop influence
- Shows how former athletes are reshaping global pop culture
- Demonstrates how K-pop idols now represent Korea on world stages beyond music
SUNGHOON’s journey proves that dreams don’t disappear — they just evolve.
KOREA FBI Editor’s Comment
Watching SUNGHOON carry the Olympic torch felt symbolic — not just for ENGENEs, but for every young person who once had to let go of a dream. Sometimes, life brings you back to that same stage in an entirely different spotlight. And that might be even more powerful.
작성자 소개
