ENHYPEN’s Sunghoon Achieves Olympic Dream in Unexpected Role
MILAN, Italy – For ENHYPEN member Sunghoon, a childhood dream of competing at the Winter Olympics has taken an unexpected, yet deeply fulfilling turn. The K-pop artist carried the Olympic torch through Milan on February 5th, a moment celebrated by fans worldwide and highlighted by international media.
Sunghoon, a former member of South Korea’s national figure skating team, participated in the torch relay as part of the lead-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. His involvement garnered significant attention, with Olympics.com providing exclusive coverage, including an interview that highlighted the unique nature of his journey.
“I was at my company!” Sunghoon recalled, describing the moment he learned he’d been selected as a torchbearer. “One of the staff members came to me and told me. I was just deeply touched and very happy because, as you probably know, I did figure skating for 10 years and while training, it was always my dream to be part of the Olympics. Now I have a different job as an idol, I’m an artist, but to be still connected to my dream is a big, big honor for me.”
The Olympic torch relay represents a full-circle moment for Sunghoon, who transitioned from a promising figure skater to a globally recognized K-pop idol after debuting with ENHYPEN in 2020. He trained as a figure skater for a decade, achieving silver medals at the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in both 2016 and 2017, and competing at two International Skating Union Junior Figure Skating Grand Prix events.
His connection to the current Winter Olympics extends beyond his role as a torchbearer. Sunghoon grew up training alongside South Korea’s current male singles skaters, Cha Jun-hwan and Kim Hyun-gyeom, and plans to attend their short program competition on Tuesday. “It feels like only yesterday we were training together,” he said. “It is so great to see them now at the Olympics after all these years.”
The international media has taken note of Sunghoon’s story. The New York Times reported that he “drew crowds wherever he went,” noting the enthusiasm of Olympic officials and volunteers captivated by his presence. Italy’s La Repubblica and American fashion magazine Elle also praised his appearance during the torch relay, recognizing his growing status as a global icon.
Sunghoon’s participation isn’t limited to symbolic gestures. ENHYPEN’s song “SHOUT OUT” has been selected as the official cheer song for the South Korean national team, further amplifying the group’s presence at the Games and providing a soundtrack for the athletes’ pursuit of victory.
“During my days as a figure skater, the Olympics was my first dream. Being an idol could be called my second dream,” Sunghoon reflected during a press conference at Korea House in Milan. “Although I came here in a different profession, I’m honored to promote Korean sports at the Olympics.” He added, “Although I came here in a different profession, I believe I’ve achieved my Olympic dream because everything I’ve done led me here.”
As a goodwill ambassador for the Korean Olympic & Sport Committee (KSOC), Sunghoon actively promotes Korean sports. His journey from the ice rink to the stage, and now to the Olympic torch relay, embodies a powerful message about pursuing dreams and finding fulfillment in unexpected ways.
