Kim Jin-seo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kim Jin-seo
Kim at the 2015 Junior Worlds
Personal information
Native name	김진서
Full name	Kim Jin-seo
Country represented	South Korea
Born	(1996-11-29) November 29, 1996 (age 29) Seoul, South Korea
Height	1.67 m (5 ft 5+1⁄2 in)
Former coach	Chi Hyun-jung Shin Hea-sook Ryu Jong-hyun Kim Hoon Choi Hyung-kyung
Former choreographer	Scott Brown Cindy Stuart Kenji Miyamoto David Wilson Stéphane Lambiel Shin Yea-ji
Training locations	Taeneung
Began skating	2008
Retired	2018
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	207.34 2014 CS Nepela Trophy
Short program	74.43 2015 Junior Worlds
Free skate	138.11 2015 Four Continents

Kim Jin-seo (born November 29, 1996) is a retired figure skater from South Korea. He was a two-time South Korean national champion, winning in 2012 and 2014. Kim also won a bronze medal at the 2012 ISU Junior Grand Prix in Austria and a silver medal at the 2014 Ondrej Nepela Trophy.

At the 2014 World Championships, Kim made history. He became the first male skater from Korea to score over 200 points in a competition.

Personal Life

Kim Jin-seo was born in Seoul, South Korea.

In August 2022, Kim announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend, Park Seon-kyung. He also shared that they were expecting their first child. The couple got married in the summer of 2023.

Their son, Kim I-an, was born in October 2022.

Skating Career

How It All Started

Kim began skating when he was 11 years old. At first, he skated as a form of physical therapy to improve his health. But his teacher quickly saw his talent. She suggested he take skating seriously and try to join the Korean national team. He started competing in 2009. By the 2010–11 season, he was already the junior men's champion at the 2011 South Korean Championships.

First National Title and an Injury

In June 2011, Kim had a serious accident. He fell during an outdoor practice on a rainy day and injured his left eardrum. The injury was bad, and he needed surgery. Even though he was still recovering, he competed for a spot in the ISU Junior Grand Prix (JGP) series but didn't make it.

However, a few months later, in January 2012, he competed at the 2012 South Korean Championships. He skated two amazing programs and won his first national title.

In May 2012, Kim performed in the All That Skate ice show in Seoul. He skated alongside famous skaters like Yuna Kim, Patrick Chan, and Stéphane Lambiel.

Competing Around the World

In the 2012–13 season, Kim made his international debut in the Junior Grand Prix series. At the JGP in Austria, he won a bronze medal. This was a big achievement because he was tenth after the short program but skated so well in the free skate that he moved up to third place. He later competed at the 2013 World Championships but just missed qualifying for the free skate.

The next season, Kim won his second national title. This earned him a spot at the 2014 World Championships. There, he skated his personal best and finished in 16th place. He also became the first Korean male skater to score over 200 points.

Grand Prix Debut and Later Years

Kim at the 2015 World Junior Championships.

In the 2014–15 season, Kim made his debut in the senior Grand Prix series, a major international competition circuit. He competed at events in China and Japan. He also won a silver medal at the 2014 Ondrej Nepela Trophy.

Over the next few years, Kim continued to compete internationally. He won a gold medal at the Ice Star competition in 2015 and several silver medals at the South Korean Championships. He represented South Korea at many events, including the Four Continents Championships and the World Championships.

In his final competitive season, 2017–18, Kim placed second at the national championships. This was an important competition to decide who would go to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Although he did not get the Olympic spot, he competed at the 2018 World Championships.

Retirement

After the 2017-18 season, Kim retired from competitive skating. His doctor advised him to stop because of a back injury.

Coaching Career

After retiring, Kim became a coach. He works as an assistant coach for his former coach, Chi Hyun-jung. He has coached many talented young skaters.

Some of his students include:

Programs

Competitive Highlights

GP: Grand Prix; CS: Challenger Series; JGP: Junior Grand Prix

Images for kids

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  Kim at the 2013 Nebelhorn Trophy.