1. Overview
Kim Chang-min (김창민Kim Chang-minKorean, born September 4, 1985) is a South Korean curler. He is widely recognized for his role as a skip, having led the South Korean men's team in various significant international competitions, including their appearance at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
2. Early Life and Background
2.1. Birth and Education
Kim Chang-min was born on September 4, 1985, in Uiseong County, South Korea. He pursued his higher education at Andong National University.
3. Curling Career
Kim Chang-min's curling career spans from his early junior beginnings to his notable achievements as a senior international competitor, marked by participation in numerous championships and tours.
3.1. Junior Career
Kim Chang-min's early stages in curling were characterized by his participation and performance in junior-level international competitions, where he quickly gained experience and achieved significant results.
His curling career began in 1998, and in his very first year, he participated in the Pacific Curling Championships. Playing as third for the Korean team, which was skipped by Song He-dong, the team faced a tough challenge and went winless in six games.
3.1.1. Junior World Championships
With a few more years of experience, Kim Chang-min became a key player on the Korean junior men's team, participating in the World Junior Curling Championships in 2004, 2005, and 2006.
At the 2004 World Junior Curling Championships, he played third for skip Kim Soo-hyuk. The team achieved a 5-4 record in the round robin and advanced to the playoffs after winning a tiebreaker match against Canada. However, they subsequently lost in both the semifinal and the bronze medal final, ultimately finishing in fourth place. In 2005, at the 2005 World Junior Curling Championships, the team experienced less success, concluding the round robin with a 2-7 record and failing to qualify for the playoffs. For the 2006 World Junior Curling Championships, Kim Chang-min was promoted to skip the Korean team. He led his rink, which included Kim Min-chan, Park Jong-duk, Park Jin-oh, and Choi Byung-rok, to a 4-5 record, again missing the playoffs.
3.1.2. Junior Pacific Championships
During his junior career, Kim Chang-min achieved notable success at the Pacific-Asia Junior Curling Championships. He secured a gold medal at the 2005 event, followed by a bronze medal in 2006, and a silver medal in 2007.
3.1.3. Winter Universiade
Kim Chang-min represented the Korean team in four Winter Universiade events while attending Andong National University, skipping the team in all his appearances.
He won a gold medal at the 2011 Winter Universiade with teammates Kim Min-chan, Seong Se-hyeon, Seo Young-seon, and Oh Eun-su. His leadership also guided Korea to a fourth-place finish at the 2009 Winter Universiade, a fifth-place finish at the 2007 Winter Universiade, and an eighth-place finish at the 2013 Winter Universiade.
3.2. Men's Career
Kim Chang-min's senior career is marked by his consistent participation and significant successes in major international tournaments and professional curling tours, establishing him as a prominent figure in South Korean curling.
After his initial, early participation in 1998, Kim Chang-min returned to the Pacific Curling Championships in 2009.
3.2.1. Pacific-Asia Championships
In 2009, Kim Chang-min skipped the Korean team, consisting of Kim Min-chan, Lim Myung-sup, Jeong Tac-yeon, and Seong Se-hyeon, to a bronze medal at the 2009 Pacific Curling Championships. He returned to the event in 2011, by which time it had been renamed the Pacific-Asia Curling Championships. There, he skipped the Korean team of Kim Min-chan, Seong Se-hyeon, Seo Young-seon, and Oh Eun-su to another bronze medal at the 2011 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships. At the 2012 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships, his team finished in fourth place.
Kim and his rink, including Seong Se-hyeon, Oh Eun-su, and Lee Ki-bok, secured a gold medal at the 2017 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships. This team was subsequently named as South Korea's official Olympic team for the 2018 Winter Olympics. In July 2019, Kim and his rink won the 2019 Korean Curling Championships. To commence the 2019-20 curling season, Kim skipped the South Korean national men's team to a gold medal at the 2019 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships, achieving a perfect 11-0 record throughout the tournament. His team for this season included Lee Ki-jeong, Kim Hak-kyun, and Lee Ki-bok.
In 2021, he led the Korean team to a 5-1 round robin record at the 2021 Pacific-Asia Curling Championships, winning both their playoff games to claim another gold medal.
3.2.2. World Championships
Kim Chang-min's team was scheduled to represent South Korea at the 2020 World Men's Curling Championship, but the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team later represented South Korea at the 2022 World Men's Curling Championship, with Seong Se-hyeon playing second. Kim led the Korean team to a 6-6 record in the championship. Seong remained the team's second for the remainder of that season.
3.2.3. Olympic Games
Kim Chang-min served as the skip for the South Korean men's team at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. A month after their victory at the 2021 Pacific-Asia Championships, the team competed in the Olympic Qualification event, where they finished with a 2-6 record and missed the playoffs.
3.2.4. World Curling Tour and Grand Slam Events
On the World Curling Tour, Kim Chang-min achieved early success by winning two events: the 2013 Original 16 WCT Bonspiel and the 2016 KKP Classic.
During their Olympic season (2017-18), Kim and his team were the runners-up in their inaugural Grand Slam of Curling event, the 2017 Boost National. This achievement marked a historic moment as they became the first Asian-based men's team to reach a Grand Slam final. To begin the 2019-20 curling season, Kim and his team finished as runner-up at the 2019 Cameron's Brewing Oakville Fall Classic. In the same season, the team also secured a victory at the 2019 China Open on the tour.
In the 2021-22 curling season, his team won the Avonair event of the Alberta Curling Series and the Kamloops Crown of Curling. They also participated in the season-ending Champions Cup Grand Slam event but did not qualify for the playoffs.
His performance record in Grand Slam events is detailed below:
| Key | |
|---|---|
| C | Champion |
| F | Lost in Final |
| SF | Lost in Semifinal |
| QF | Lost in Quarterfinals |
| R16 | Lost in the round of 16 |
| Q | Did not advance to playoffs |
| T2 | Played in Tier 2 event |
| DNP | Did not participate in event |
| N/A | Not a Grand Slam event that season |
| Event | 2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-20 | 2020-21 | 2021-22 | 2022-23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The National | F | DNP | DNP | N/A | DNP | DNP |
| Tour Challenge | DNP | DNP | DNP | N/A | N/A | T2 |
| Canadian Open | Q | DNP | N/A | N/A | DNP | DNP |
| Champions Cup | DNP | DNP | N/A | DNP | Q | DNP |
3.2.5. National Championships
Kim Chang-min has achieved significant success at the domestic level, winning multiple Korean Curling Championships titles. He won gold medals in 2011 (Uijeongbu), 2012 (Uijeongbu), 2017 (Icheon), 2019 (Gangneung), and 2021 (Gangneung).
He also secured silver medals in 2013 (Chuncheon), 2016 (Uiseong), 2020 (Gangneung), and 2022 (Jincheon). Additionally, he earned bronze medals in 2023 (Gangneung) and 2024 (Uijeongbu).
4. Personal Life
Kim Chang-min is affiliated with the Gyeongsangbukdo Sports Council.
5. Major Achievements and Contributions
Kim Chang-min has made significant contributions to curling in South Korea through his numerous achievements and consistent performance as a skip. His major accomplishments include:
- Gold Medals:**
- Pacific-Asia Championships: 2017, 2019, 2021
- Winter Universiade: 2011
- Pacific Junior Championships: 2005
- Korean Men's Championship: 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019, 2021
- Silver Medals:**
- Pacific Junior Championships: 2007
- Korean Men's Championship: 2013, 2016, 2020, 2022
- Bronze Medals:**
- Pacific-Asia Championships: 2009, 2011
- Pacific Junior Championships: 2006
- Korean Men's Championship: 2023, 2024
Beyond his medal count, Kim Chang-min notably skipped the South Korean men's team at the 2018 Winter Olympics, marking a significant milestone in his career and for South Korean curling. His team also made history by becoming the first Asian-based men's team to reach a Grand Slam final, at the 2017 Boost National. He has also been a consistent winner on the World Curling Tour, with victories at events such as the 2013 Original 16 WCT Bonspiel, 2016 KKP Classic, 2019 China Open, the Avonair event of the Alberta Curling Series, and the Kamloops Crown of Curling.