Ran for 20 Minutes as a Torchbearer for the 2026 Winter Olympics
Plans to Watch and Cheer On Cha Junhwan, His Longtime Companion from His Athlete Days
On February 6 (KST), the area around Bolivar Station in Milan, Italy, was filled with K-pop stars and fans draped in the Taegeukgi. ENHYPEN member Sunghoon took part in the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics torch relay, igniting the flame of peace and unity.
That afternoon, Sunghoon ran a section near Bolivar Station in Milan for about 20 minutes. Global fans had gathered at the torch relay site hours in advance, creating a massive crowd. Fans waved placards reading "Sunghoon, fighting" in Korean and chanted his name. Sunghoon responded with a bright smile and a wave, safely passing the flame to the next runner.
After completing the torch relay, Sunghoon shared his thoughts through his agency Belif Lab, saying, "I am deeply moved to be able to step onto the Olympic stage as a singer, which I dreamed of during my time as an athlete," and added, "Thanks to the fans and sports fans, I received an incredible amount of energy."
Before the torch relay, Sunghoon attended a press conference held at Korea House in Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan. He said, "During my figure skating days, the Olympics were my first dream, and being an idol was my second dream," and continued, "Even though I came here in a different profession, I was able to be here because of everything I have done so far, so I believe I have fulfilled my dream of reaching the Olympics."
Sunghoon was previously a member of the preliminary national team in figure skating and has experience competing in the International Skating Union (ISU) Junior Grand Prix. He has a special bond dating back to their competitive days with Cha Junhwan, the leading Korean men's singles figure skater competing at this Olympics. The two have also performed together at a music awards ceremony.
He said, "Cha Junhwan, who is both an older brother figure and a senior to me, is a perfect athlete in every aspect," and added, "During the Games, I plan to watch his short program live at the venue and cheer him on."
His agency stated, "Through this torch relay, Sunghoon widely promoted the Olympic spirit and the core value of K-pop, which is passion," and evaluated, "In line with the group's ambition to connect people and the world through music, he created a space for communion that transcended genres and borders."
ENHYPEN, the group Sunghoon belongs to, is further fueling Olympic fever, with their third mini album track "SHOUT OUT" being selected as Team Korea's official cheering song. He said, "As an honorary ambassador for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, I will work to help more people enjoy Korean sports," and added, "I will take the lead in promoting quality Olympic-related content to the public."
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