Kim Min-seok, once South Korea's top middle-distance speed skater, concluded his first Olympics representing Hungary without a medal. The 27-year-old spoke candidly about his decision to change nationalities after the competition.
Kim finished 12th in the second semifinal of the men's mass start at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium on Wednesday, failing to secure a spot in the final reserved for the top eight. After placing 11th in the 1000m and 7th in the 1500m, he ended the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics without reaching any podium.
This marked Kim's third Olympic appearance, following two Games where he competed for South Korea—PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022. This time, however, he wore the Hungarian flag.
"I gave everything I had," Kim told Korean reporters after the race. "I'm disappointed with the results, but I have no regrets. I learned a lot through this Olympics."
Kim was once the ace of Korean speed skating. At PyeongChang, he won bronze in the 1500m and silver in the team pursuit. At Beijing, he claimed another 1500m bronze—becoming the first Asian skater to medal in that event.
His career derailed in July 2022 when he caused a drunk driving accident at the Jincheon National Training Center. The Korea Skating Union suspended him for 18 months. A court fined him 4 million won, and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee barred him from the national team for two years. His team contract was also terminated, leaving him without a training environment.
He naturalized as a Hungarian citizen in 2024 to continue his career.
"Skating is my entire life," Kim said, reflecting on his decision. "I thought if I couldn't train for two years, I wouldn't be able to continue as an athlete. I wanted to stand at the Olympics again."
"I loved South Korea so much, and having competed as a national team member, I agonized over this day and night," he added. "But I loved skating more, so I found a way to keep going."
As Hungary's sole speed skater at the Games, Kim trained with the Korean national team during his preparation.
"Coach Baek Chul-gi showed me great generosity," Kim said. "I had no one to train with, and the Korean team helped me. He coached me at PyeongChang in 2018, and he treated me warmly again this time."
Despite falling short of expectations, Kim remained composed. "I'm disappointed not to be on the podium, but I'm not angry or sad. I realized my weaknesses through this competition and felt I can still grow."
Kim expressed clear intentions to compete at the 2030 French Alps Winter Olympics.
"I'm definitely planning to prepare for the next Olympics," he said. "Even if I struggle like now, I'll keep pushing forward and work to stand on the podium again someday."