"I loved Korea so much."" KIM MIN SEOK, naturalized under the influence of alcohol, finally opened his mouth→"The reason why I became a naturalized Hungarian..."" [Milan Olympics]

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Min-seok (27), who was naturalized and played for Hungary, which caused a drunk driving accident in Korea, opened his mouth.

According to News 1, Newsis, Kim Min-seok met with Korean reporters and interviewed after failing to win a ticket to the final round, which was given up to 8th place, in the second group of the mass start semifinals of the 2026 Milan-Cortina D'Ampezzo Winter Olympics held at Milan Speed Skating Stadium in Italy on the 21st (Korea time).

Kim Min-seok was not interviewed after finishing the individual 1,000m and 1,500m speed skating events at the Milan Olympics. However, after finishing his Olympic schedule with mass start events, he stood in front of Korean reporters.

"Skating is everything in my life," Kim Min-seok said. "I thought it would be difficult to continue my career if I couldn't train for two years." I made the decision thinking only about being able to participate in the Olympics," he said.

"I loved Korea very much and played for the Korean national team, so I struggled day and night until the decision to naturalize," he said. "It was a choice to find a way to continue skating."

Kim Min-seok, who was the only ice skater on the Hungarian team in this competition, also shared the story behind the joint training with the South Korean team. He said, "I didn't have a player to train with, but thanks to the consideration of the Korean national team coach Baek Chul-ki, I was able to work out together. This is the director who coached me during the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. You cared for me. That's why I think they were considerate again this time," he said.

Kim Min-seok then expressed his gratitude to Jung Jae-won, who also won a silver medal for team overtaking at the PyeongChang competition eight years ago. He said, "I always worked out with (Jung) Jae-won. He has also made a collaboration (2018 Pyeongchang team overtaking silver medal). The silver medal eight years ago is a great honor to think about now, and it's an unforgettable experience," he recalled, adding, "I think the entire team has been considerate for me."

Although Kim failed to stand on the podium at the Milan Olympics, Kim appeared detached from the results. He said, "I don't have any regrets or regrets because I did the best I could. I'm sorry that I didn't win a medal like I did in the past, but I'm not angry or sad. Through this Olympics, I realized what I lacked and felt that I could grow further," he said.

Kim Min-seok is now looking four years later. It is the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics. "Of course, we will prepare for the next Olympics," he said, "Even if we are sluggish as we are now, we will continue to try to stand on the podium one day."

Meanwhile, Kim Min-seok played as a Korean ice star in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics and the 2022 Beijing Olympics. Kim Min-seok made his Olympic debut at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics. At the competition held in his own country, he emerged as a new star, winning a silver medal in the men's team pursuit event and a bronze medal in the 1,500m event, respectively. This wasn't the end. At the 2002 Beijing Olympics, Kim Min-seok competed in the men's 1,500-meter speed skating event and succeeded in winning a bronze medal. It was a medal achievement for two consecutive tournaments.

However, Kim Min-seok caused a stir in July 2022 when he caused a drunk driving accident at Jincheon Training Center in Chungbuk. On July 22 of that year, after drinking at a restaurant near Jincheon National Training Center, he drove his vehicle into the athletes' village and crashed into the boundary stone of the sidewalk block. At that time, the police estimated Kim Min-seok's blood alcohol concentration as the level of license cancellation.

Later, the Korea Skating Union held a sports fair committee and suspended him for one and a half years. Then, in May 2023, he was fined 4 million won at the trial and suspended from the national team for two years by the Korean Sports Council.

Then he suddenly broke the surprise news. Choosing to naturalize Hungary in July 2024. At the time, he said in an interview with the Hungarian Skating Union, "I was suspended for three years for drunk driving in Korea. I still regret what happened at that time. Since then, he has not been behind the wheel," he said.

"The Korean Skating Union said it would give them a chance to participate in the 2026 Winter Olympics, but we decided that it would be difficult if they did not train for three years. He explained the reason for his naturalization, saying, "I had no team or income due to disciplinary action." Recently, Son Heung-min's click ceremony was released on the official social network service (SNS) of the Hungarian Skating Union, drawing attention again.

Kim Min-seok, who went to Hungary and trained there, competed in the 1,000m and 1,500m events at the Olympics. But as a result, he couldn't laugh. In the 1,000m event, he finished 11th with a time of 1:08.59. He then bowed his head to seventh place in the 1,500m. He then wrapped up his Milan Olympic schedule with the mass start event on the same day.

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*This content was translated by AI.