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Korean short track speed skaters, including Choi Min-jung (28) and Kim Gil-ri (22), both of the Seongnam City Hall team, will meet domestic fans through a World Tour event held on home ice.
The Korea Skating Union announced that the “2026-2027 International Skating Union (ISU) Short Track Speed Skating World Tour 3rd Event” will be held for three days from the 20th to the 22nd at the Seoul Mokdong Ice Rink.
The ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Tour is an international competition where top short track speed skaters from around the world compete for event medals and overall season rankings.
This Seoul event, the third stop of the 2026-2027 season World Tour, is expected to be a crucial stage for assessing the current competitive form of athletes as the season reaches its midpoint, as well as the trajectory of competition in individual events and overall standings.
In particular, short track speed skating is an event where victory is determined not only by explosive speed but also by overtaking strategies, race management, and intense positional battles between skaters. This tournament is expected to feature thrilling races that are unpredictable at every moment through men’s and women’s individual events and relay events.
The South Korean team is set to showcase the strength of a short track powerhouse by competing with world-class athletes while backed by the cheers of home fans.
In particular, interest from domestic fans is growing as this offers an opportunity to directly witness the performance of Choi Min-jung, who announced her retirement from the national team at the end of this season. Although the World Championships to be held in Seoul are expected to be her final competition as a national team member, a ticketing war is anticipated given that there will be few more opportunities to watch her races.
Choi Min-jung, who expressed her intention to retire from the national team and entered the new season, has demonstrated skills comparable to her prime by winning two gold medals, four silver medals, and one bronze medal in the first and second World Tour events. Expectations for this tournament are also high, as the knee injury that had troubled Choi Min-jung has been well managed through rehabilitation.
Kim Gil-ri, who won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics held last season, finished her previous season perfectly by winning a double crown at the World Championships, but showed a poor start to this season. At the second event, she fell repeatedly while attempting an overtake and did not participate in the relay race before returning home. This tournament, held domestically, offers hope that things will be different. Having proven skills on par with those who will succeed Choi Min-jung and enjoying popularity comparable to Choi Min-jung’s, expectations for this event are building.
As an international competition held domestically, fans can directly watch the performances of world-class athletes and the South Korean team on-site, experiencing the unique speed and tension of short track speed skating vividly.
Performance programs linked with K-POP are also scheduled to be held on the 21st and 22nd, when the tournament takes place. Through this, spectators will be provided with a unique experience of enjoying both short track speed skating races and cultural performances, which is expected to further boost the atmosphere at the venue.
In addition to watching the races, various entertainment options will be prepared at the tournament venue. Including MD merchandise sales and food truck operations, spectators are expected to enjoy a sports festival atmosphere by savoring food, souvenirs, and cultural programs alongside the games.
Tickets for the tournament are currently on sale, with domestic spectators able to purchase them through Naver and overseas spectators through Ticketlink. Detailed information such as seating arrangements, prices, reservation methods, and precautions can be found on each ticket sales page.
For fans who cannot visit the venue, major races are scheduled to be broadcast via SBS Sports and Naver CHZZK, with specific broadcasting schedules to be announced later according to the programming of each broadcaster and platform.
The “2026-2027 ISU Short Track Speed Skating World Tour 3rd Event,” where world-class athletes will showcase speed and strategy in a fierce battle for rankings, opens on the 20th at the Seoul Mokdong Ice Rink.
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
