1. Overview
Kim Min-seok (김민석Korean, born February 19, 1993) is a former figure skater from South Korea. Throughout his career, he achieved significant milestones, notably becoming a two-time South Korean national champion in 2009 and 2010. He is recognized for being the first Korean skater to successfully land a triple Axel jump in an ISU-sanctioned competition. Kim also earned a silver medal at the 2012 Asian Figure Skating Trophy and a bronze medal in the same event in 2008.
2. Early Life and Background
Kim Min-seok was born on February 19, 1993, in Daejeon, South Korea. He began his figure skating journey in 1999. Standing at 5.6 ft (1.71 m), Kim's early education included attending Daejeon Dunwon Elementary School, Daejeon Dunsan Middle School, and Suri High School. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in Korea University Sejong Campus, where he continued his studies. During his competitive career, Kim trained at the Korea National Training Center in Taeneung and was a member of the Anyang Figure Skating Club. His coaches included Chi Hyun-jung and Kim Se-yol, with Kim Se-yol also serving as his choreographer.
3. Career
Kim Min-seok's figure skating career spanned both junior and senior levels, marked by consistent participation in national and international competitions and the achievement of notable technical feats.
3.1. Junior Career
Kim Min-seok's junior career saw him compete in various international and national events, building his foundation as a competitive skater. He participated in the World Junior Figure Skating Championships multiple times, placing 33rd in 2007, 39th in 2008, 22nd in 2009, and 25th in 2010. He also competed in the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, with appearances at events in Austria (23rd in 2007, 11th in 2010), Croatia (14th in 2009), Germany (12th in 2010), Mexico (9th in 2008), Norway (20th in 2006), Taiwan (13th in 2006), Turkey (11th in 2009), and the United States (13th in 2007). Domestically, Kim demonstrated early dominance, winning the South Korean National Junior Championships in both the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 seasons. Additionally, he secured a junior-level gold medal at the 2009 Winter Games New Zealand.
3.2. Senior Career
As a senior skater, Kim Min-seok continued to be a prominent figure in South Korean men's skating. He achieved significant national success, becoming the South Korean national champion for two consecutive years in 2009 and 2010. He later earned a silver medal at the championships in 2011 and a bronze in 2012.
Internationally, Kim competed in the World Figure Skating Championships, placing 39th in 2009, 23rd in 2010, and 27th in both 2011 and 2012. His 23rd-place finish at the 2010 Worlds marked a historic achievement, as he became the first Korean male skater to advance to the free skating segment at the World Championships. He regularly participated in the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships, with his best result being 14th in 2010. Other international appearances included the Nebelhorn Trophy (20th in 2009, 16th in 2011), the Winter Universiade (8th in 2013), and the Asian Winter Games (9th in 2011). He also won a silver medal at the 2012 Asian Figure Skating Trophy and a bronze medal at the same event in 2008.
A pivotal moment in Kim's career and for Korean figure skating was his successful landing of a triple Axel in an ISU-sanctioned competition. He was the first Korean male skater to achieve this technical feat and also the first to receive a positive Grade of Execution (GOE) for the jump.
3.3. Skating Style and Technique
Kim Min-seok was known for his comprehensive range of triple jumps, including the triple Axel (3A), triple Lutz (3Lz), triple flip (3F), triple loop (3Lo), triple Salchow (3S), and triple toe loop (3T). His jump combinations were diverse and complex, featuring sequences such as 3A+2T, 3S+3Lo, 3F+2T, 3S+2Lo, 3Lz+2Lo, 2A+2T, and 2A+2A+SEQ (sequence).
Beyond jumps, Kim exhibited a variety of spin positions. He was particularly recognized for his graceful execution of the shotgun spin, highlighting his exceptional flexibility, which was a notable strength for a male skater. His personal best scores in ISU competitions were 59.80 for the short program (achieved at the 2010 World Championships), 114.92 for the free skating program (set at the 2011 Four Continents Championships), and a total combined score of 169.59 (also from the 2011 Four Continents Championships).
3.4. Programs
Kim Min-seok performed a variety of programs throughout his competitive career, featuring diverse musical selections and choreographic styles.
| Season | Short program | Free skating | Exhibition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-2015 | Cello Wars (Star Wars Parody) Lightsaber Duel by The Piano Guys | Triangle Tango Quidam (from Cirque du Soleil) | |
| 2013-2014 | Cello Wars (Star Wars Parody) Lightsaber Duel by The Piano Guys | Triangle Tango Quidam (from Cirque du Soleil) | |
| 2012-2013 | Conquest of Paradise by Vangelis | Triangle Tango Quidam (from Cirque du Soleil) | |
| 2011-2012 | The Pirate That Should Not Be (from Pirates of the Caribbean) by Hans Zimmer | Adios Nonino by Ástor Piazzolla | |
| 2010-2011 | Bolero (from Moulin Rouge!) by Steve Sharples performed by Craig Armstrong | Chess by Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus | |
| 2009-2010 | Bolero by Maurice Ravel | Flamenco Rhapsody by Walter G. Samuels | Inside Out by Bryan Adams |
| 2008-2009 | X-Files by Mark Snow | Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone | Maria (from West Side Story) |
| 2007-2008 | La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi | Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badelt, Hans Zimmer | |
| 2006-2007 | La traviata by Giuseppe Verdi | Grieg's Piano Concerto In A by Maksim Mrvica |
4. Competitive Highlights
| International | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Event | 06-07 | 07-08 | 08-09 | 09-10 | 10-11 | 11-12 | 12-13 | 13-14 | 14-15 |
| Worlds | 39th (SP: 43.28) | 23rd (SP: 59.80, FS: 89.51, Total: 149.31) | 27th (SP: 56.19) | 27th (SP: 55.41) | |||||
| Four Continents | 19th (SP: 41.04, FS: 67.71, Total: 108.75) | 14th (SP: 49.49, FS: 103.60, Total: 153.09) | 15th (SP: 53.67, FS: 114.92, Total: 168.59) | 15th (SP: 49.39, FS: 107.75, Total: 157.14) | 20th (SP: 51.43, FS: 86.20, Total: 137.63) | ||||
| Nebelhorn Trophy | 20th (SP: 54.19, FS: 93.04, Total: 147.23) | 16th (SP: 44.14, FS: 98.89, Total: 143.03) | |||||||
| Universiade | 8th (SP: 59.53, FS: 126.27, Total: 185.80) | ||||||||
| Asian Games | 9th (SP: 58.09, FS: 106.33, Total: 164.42) | ||||||||
| Asian Trophy | 3rd (SP: 38.60, FS: 96.87, Total: 135.47) | 4th (SP: 45.41, FS: 108.35, Total: 153.76) | 2nd (SP: 49.40, FS: 104.09, Total: 153.49) | ||||||
| NZ Games | 1st (J) (SP: 61.73, FS: 91.41, Total: 153.14) | ||||||||
| Pan-Pacific | 1st (J) | ||||||||
| International: Junior | |||||||||
| Junior Worlds | 33rd (SP: 36.74) | 39th (SP: 32.31) | 22nd (SP: 46.73, FS: 83.14, Total: 129.87) | 25th (SP: 47.38) | |||||
| JGP Austria | 23rd (SP: 30.27, FS: 60.78, Total: 91.05) | 11th (SP: 50.47, FS: 95.38, Total: 145.85) | |||||||
| JGP Croatia | 14th (SP: 49.63, FS: 80.00, Total: 129.63) | ||||||||
| JGP Germany | 12th (SP: 55.77, FS: 90.81, Total: 146.58) | ||||||||
| JGP Mexico | 9th (SP: 39.66, FS: 85.90, Total: 125.56) | ||||||||
| JGP Norway | 20th (SP: 32.76, FS: 64.18, Total: 96.94) | ||||||||
| JGP Taiwan | 13th (SP: 32.85, FS: 65.03, Total: 97.88) | ||||||||
| JGP Turkey | 11th (SP: 48.22, FS: 92.22, Total: 140.44) | ||||||||
| JGP United States | 13th (SP: 26.69, FS: 56.02, Total: 82.71) | ||||||||
| National | |||||||||
| South Korean Champ. | 1st J. | 1st J. (SP: 37.09, FS: 69.80, Total: 106.89) | 1st (SP: 59.95) | 1st (SP: 56.85, FS: 106.56, Total: 163.41) | 2nd (SP: 59.95, FS: 118.23, Total: 178.18) | 3rd | 5th (SP: 52.60, FS: 83.17, Total: 135.77) | 4th (SP: 67.43, FS: 120.99, Total: 188.42) | 4th (SP: 64.31, FS: 112.83, Total: 177.14) |
| Ranking Comp. | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 4th |
| J = Junior level; JGP = Junior Grand Prix | |||||||||
5. Retirement and Later Activities
Kim Min-seok officially retired from competitive figure skating on January 9, 2015, following his participation in the South Korean National Championships. After concluding his professional skating career, Kim continued to be involved in the sport through various activities. In May 2009, he participated in the "Festa on Ice" show, where he presented a gala program, showcasing his talents beyond competitive arenas. Even after his retirement, Kim maintained his academic pursuits, continuing his studies at Korea University Sejong Campus.
6. Assessment and Legacy
Kim Min-seok holds a significant place in the history of South Korean men's figure skating. His achievements as a two-time national champion demonstrated his domestic dominance. More importantly, he broke new ground for Korean male skaters on the international stage. His successful execution of the triple Axel in an ISU competition marked a pivotal technical advancement, making him the first Korean male skater to achieve this difficult jump and receive positive marks for it. Furthermore, by qualifying for the free skating segment at the 2010 World Figure Skating Championships, he set a precedent for future Korean male skaters to compete at the highest level of international competition. Kim Min-seok's pioneering efforts and technical prowess laid important groundwork for the development and recognition of men's figure skating in South Korea.
