Mid-season bulletin in short track: Korea

South Korea has been a force to be reckoned with since the first appearance of short track speed skating at the Olympic games in Albertville. Here’s our 2018-2019 mid-season bulletin on team Korea.

Par Jackob Savard

Photo: Danny Kim (@dk_st)

The Korean continued their tradition of excellence so far this season and especially on 1500m where they dominated both the ladies’ and men’s podiums.


Choi Min Jeong being Choi Min Jeong

Even though she had a slower start in Calgary, Choi Min Jeong came back winning a 1500m in Salt Lake City and Almaty to lead the World cup classification on the distance. Other Koreans like reigning world junior champion Kim Ji Yoo showed great things. She’s currently sitting in 5th place of the 1500m ranking even if she only raced the distance two times out of four. As for the other Korean skaters who did well, you should keep an eye on Kim Geon Hee and Noh Ah Rum in the second half of the season. Korea’s ladies relay team also won a gold and two silver medals and currently dominates the World cup classification on the distance.

A solid group of men

Even if some of the Korean skaters participated in only two of the four 1500m finals, five of them are in the top 10 on the distance. Lee June Seo and Kim Gun Wu were the most dominant as they are presently first and second in the World cup ranking. On 1000m, Park Ji Won and Hong Kyung Hwan both showed great passing skills and tactics and are both well placed in the World cup classification. The men’s relay competition has been tight so far this season and the Koreans had a harder time making their place. They are ranked 5th after three events.

Korea’s mixed relay is in fourth place after three events. They collected a bronze and a silver medal but didn’t manage to access the A final in Salt Lake City. Don’t consider them beaten for the second half of the season, they could definitely climb back the rankings.

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