Asian Games Gold Medalist Cha Junhwan Joins Seoul City Hall Team: "Full Support Promised"

Cha Junhwan Becomes the First Figure Skater to Join a Professional Team in Korea
Seoul City Hall Welcomes the Gold Medalist as Its Newest Member

Cha Junhwan, the gold medalist in figure skating at the Harbin Winter Asian Games, has joined the Seoul City Hall figure skating team, which is part of the city's workplace sports division.

On the morning of May 14 at 10:30 a.m., Seoul City Hall held an induction ceremony for Cha Junhwan. Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon personally helped Cha put on his uniform and welcomed him to the team.

Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon is taking a commemorative photo with figure skater Cha Junhwan, who joined the Seoul City Hall figure skating team on the 14th. Photo by Seoul City Hall

Cha Junhwan made history by becoming the first Korean male figure skater to win a gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games. He also finished fifth at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, won gold at the 2022 ISU Four Continents Championships, and took silver at the 2023 ISU World Championships.

Seoul City established its figure skating team, the first of its kind among local governments, in preparation for the 2026 Winter Olympics. With the addition of the figure skating team, the city now operates 26 sports teams with a total of 189 members.

Cha Junhwan's induction marks the first time a figure skater has joined a professional team in Korea. The city expects that the founding of the figure skating team and the recruitment of Cha Junhwan will drive the growth of the sport and serve as a catalyst for the development of winter sports in Korea.

At the induction ceremony, Cha Junhwan said, "It is truly an honor and an exciting moment to become the first member of the Seoul City Hall figure skating team. The fact that this is the first time a professional team has been established for figure skating in Korea makes this occasion even more meaningful. As a member of Seoul City Hall, I will now take on even greater responsibility in my training and competitions."

Mayor Oh stated, "Seoul City will provide full support for all of Cha Junhwan's training, competitions, and his journey toward the Olympics. We will be a strong supporter so that every athlete in our workplace sports division can train in a stable environment and confidently showcase their skills on the international stage."