Written by Kang Hyun-kyung
Seo Min Kyu's performance on the ice was like that of an artist.
Gliding gracefully to the music of “Notre-Dame de Paris,” the teenage skater plays the character of Quasimodo, the heart-wrenching bell-ringer from Victor Hugo's 1831 novel “The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.” embodyed. So played the character of a hunchback with precision and skill, enduring a life marked by ridicule and fear from the townspeople, ultimately bringing Hugo's protagonist to life on the ice.
Through choreographed sequences rich in passion and complexity, Seo conveyed Quasimodo's deep sadness, tragic fate, and ultimately fulfilled love, all with remarkable artistry and technical sophistication. His performance on the ice brilliantly captured the emotional depth of the Hunchback character, depicting Quasimodo's journey with the intricate movements of his hands, arms, steps, and even facial expressions. This level of skill and maturity is even more impressive considering this skater's young age of 15 years.
As an avid figure skating fan, I was very happy to learn that a Korean skater made it to the top of the podium at the ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships. Xu performed flawlessly in both the short program and free program, winning first place at the competition held in Taipei, Taiwan on March 2.
He is the first Korean male skater to win a gold medal at the ISU Junior World Championships. Additionally, he became the second Korean to finish first overall in this event, achieving this feat 18 years after Yuna Kim won the title.
South Korea achieved remarkable results at this year's World Championships. Shin Ji Ah, another figure skating prodigy, also accomplished the feat of winning three consecutive silver medals in women's singles. Shin won first place in the short program with her captivating performance. However, she fell seven points behind her Japanese rival Mao Shimada in the long program.
Shin and Seo are post-Kim Yona skaters who were heavily influenced by the legendary figure skater.
Growing up watching Kim win gold medals at the World Championships and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, they were motivated to take up figure skating and dreamed of becoming the next figure skating champion.
Kim's amazing and unparalleled performances and numerous titles not only inspired children to take on the ice, but also sparked a rare figure skating boom in South Korea.
I think Seo, like Kim, has the potential to become Korea's next figure skating legend. He was born to skate. He has been around since his debut in 2022. Looking at his performances in past ISU competitions, I feel he is a talented skater with the potential to become a top-class athlete.
The way he skates is appealing enough to convince the judges to give him a strong GOE. His GOE is higher than other skaters, which means that he can perform all the necessary elements brilliantly.
In the two years since her debut, Seo Seo has made amazing progress in her performance. He didn't have a triple axel jump in his short program this season and had one triple axel in his free program. He attempted high-level jumping for the first time this year and achieved good results.
Ahead of the World Championships, Seo and his coaches agreed to introduce one triple axel jump in the short program and two in the free program in order to earn more points and increase their chances of winning. . He adapted well to the change. He performed well in the short program, contributing to his personal best score. His first triple axel in his long program was impressive, but he gave up on his second attempt and had his planned triple axel changed to a single axel, resulting in a point deduction.
Although it was a sudden decision to incorporate high-level jumps into the program, the skaters adapted very well to the modified program. His successful triple axel jump at the World Championships shows that he is a quick learner and can perform high-level jumps.
Like other skaters, Seo said her dream is to win at the Olympics. The Olympics are on a different level than the Junior World Championships, and the competition for medals is extremely tough, with talented athletes competing for a spot on the podium.
We currently have some top class skaters including Ilya Marin. She is capable of quadruple axels, and she can also perform other quadruple jumps with ease.
At a press conference held at Incheon International Airport on Monday, shortly after returning to South Korea with other skaters, Seo said he is currently working on quadruple jumps and has plenty of practice time ahead of the new season. He said he plans to train harder.
Xu is a rare figure skater who combines grace and strength. Elegance and power are the two key elements that made Yuna Kim an Olympic gold medalist. The competition is so fierce that it will be a difficult battle for Seo to become an Olympic medalist.
But given his talent, hard work, and unwavering passion for figure skating, I think he can do it. As long as he continues to hone his skills and progress like he has the past two years, he will continue to do so.
Due to age restrictions, Xu will not be eligible to participate in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics. Figure skating is open to athletes aged 17 and older. The earliest Olympics he can compete in is the 2030 Winter Olympics. With six years to go, this teenage skater has plenty of time to improve and hone his skills and performance.
I follow the skating prodigy's successful journey to the Olympics.
Kang Hyun-kyung is an editorial writer for The Korea Times.