Minkyu Seo is carving his own legacy
Minkyu Seo
Minkyu Seo made figure skating history by becoming South Korea’s first male skater to medal—the gold—at a World Junior Figure Skating Championships in 2024. While he didn’t retain the title this season, the skater still improved two of his personal best scores, taking second place to add a silver to his growing collection. But winning last year didn’t add pressure going into this event—if anything, it boosted his motivation.
“I didn’t feel pressure as the defending champion, but I really hoped to make it onto the podium,” said Seo. “I thought that if I could deliver clean performances, it might be possible—so I truly wanted to skate clean programs.”
Seo and Japan’s Rio Nakata were nearly tied for first place after the short program in Debrecen, Hungary. Both had solid skates however, Seo took a fall in the free skate on a triple Axel.
“I was surprised when I failed my triple Axel, but it didn’t bother me,” said Seo. “I believed I could get better marks if I did well later. I was very surprised when I received my score because I did not expect a high score.”
Highlights and Success
While Junior Worlds was the biggest event of the season, one of Seo’s highlights was actually his Junior Grand Prix (JGP) competition earlier in the fall in the Czech Republic where he took gold.
“Czechia is a very meaningful place for me because it’s the place where I received a high score from my first junior short program,” he shared of the competition in 2022. “But since I couldn’t win a medal then, this was a place I wanted to return to. During the short program, my ankle hurt a lot, and I had to compete in that condition. Thankfully, I got a really good result, so I was both relieved and happy.”
But his favorite moment came at 2024 JGP Solidarity Cup in Gdańsk, Poland, where he soared from 11th to third place overall for the bronze.
“I made a big mistake during the short program, so I thought I had no chance of making the podium,” Seo recalled. “During the free skate, I made another big mistake as well, but when it was confirmed that I had placed third, I was incredibly happy!”
In fact, the skater was so happy he hadn’t realized he hit is head after a fall on a triple Axel in the free skate until after the medal ceremony.
“When I got back to the hotel, I started feeling how much it hurt,” he recalled. “I remember being worried before going to sleep that something might be wrong with my head.”
Training abroad; new programs for 2025-26
Although many young skaters chase their dreams by relocating to major training hubs, Seo’s journey is rooted in something far more personal: family, hometown pride, and an unshakable belief in hard work. Unlike many of his peers who moved to Seoul to access better facilities and coaching, the skater has chosen to stay in his hometown of Daegu—a city without a strong competitive skating scene. Currently, his coaching team includes his mother, Kim Eun-Ju, Ayoung Kim and HyungKyung Choi.
However, earlier this month, the skater spent time training in Vancouver while he stayed with a close friend of the family. He split his time between Connaught Skating Club and Coquitlam Skating Club, working with Keegan Murphy and Bruno Delmaestro, respectively. While there, he fine-tuned his two new programs which were choreographed by Elizabeth Putnam, former pair skater and Patrick Chan’s wife. Chan himself worked with Seo on the details and performance.
For the short program, he will be performing to “Czardas” performed by Layers—a dynamic and genre-bending rendition of the famous piece by Italian composer Vittorio Monti.
“It’s a Hungarian folk dance piece,” said Seo. “At first, I didn’t think I’d be able to do it as it’s a very unfamiliar style. When I got the choreography video, I was a little worried as they weren’t the kind of moves I was used to. I was shocked and felt a bit embarrassed each time I practiced. But now, as I’ve gotten used to the new movements, I’m finding it fun! Trying different genres, staying true to myself—that’s what being a junior is about.”
His free skate is set to the well-known music by Muse, “Exogenesis: Symphony Part 3 (Redemption).”
“I have known about this song for a long time, and I wanted to try it,” said Seo. “I like how this piece has both calm parts and powerful moments. But I think I need to work and study more on how to lead the performance during the calm sections so that it doesn’t feel boring and the audience can stay fully engaged.”
Building from the basics
Seo also plans to stay on the Junior circuit internationally for the 2025–26 season, with an eye toward senior competition post-Milan Olympics. Known for his commitment to performance quality, he wants to continue to improve and places strong emphasis on the components of his programs.
“I am investing a significant amount of time to show better performance and acting to the audience,” he shared. “I’ve been focusing a lot on practicing basic skating skills and refining my edge work. Rather than doing difficult elements, I’m trying to go back to the basics and build a strong foundation. I’m also practicing moving my body more smoothly on the ice through various turns and movements.”
The athlete spends approximately four hours on-ice training and two-three hours off-ice, including Pilates and weight training. He is currently working on the quad Salchow, quad toe and quad flip on a harness his father built for him.
“I added quad Salchow into free skate for next season,” Seo shared. “I am practicing and focusing on that right now.
Beyond the rink and inspirations
When he isn’t training, Seo enjoys cycling and playing with his toy poodle “Nurungji.” The name comes from a traditional Korean scorched rice dish.
“It’s made from the crispy, golden-brown layer of rice that sticks to the bottom of the pot,” he explained. “It has a nutty flavor. When our dog was born, its ears and legs were yellow; that’s why we named it ‘Nurungji.’ However, now it has turned white!”
He cites fellow countryman Junhwan Cha as one of his inspirations.
“Watching him made me want to pursue competitive skating,” he confirmed. “He is an amazing figure skater who can perfectly pull off programs in many different styles, and he performs in a way that draws the audience into the program. I think he’s truly amazing, and I respect him a lot.”
“Also, I recently saw Yuma Kagiyama’s performance in person for the first time at the Grand Prix Final, and it was incredible!” he added. “I watched his practices and competition, and his level of focus and immersion in the performance was remarkable. He puts acting into every single movement, and I came to truly respect him as a skater. And I’ve admired Patrick Chan for a long time. I love the way his skating flows like water, and I want to create my unique style of skating too.”
Now, Seo is carving his own legacy, not just as South Korea’s next star, but as a skater who values artistry and growth on his own terms. And with his spirit, there’s no doubt that he is just getting started.
Related Info:
The post Minkyu Seo is carving his own legacy appeared first on Golden Skate.