Cha Jun-hwan bids farewell to national team, may launch acting career with 'Solo Leveling'

Deep reflection after finishing fourth at the Olympics, expanding his horizons beyond the ice

Cha Jun-hwan, 24, the face of Korean men's singles figure skating, is temporarily stepping away from professional competition and broadening his activities into the entertainment industry.

Cha announced on social media on the 12th that he had spent considerable time weighing his next steps since the end of last season and had decided to stop competing as a member of the national team and in events this season. He also said he had amicably concluded his contract with Seoul City Hall, his former team, after thorough mutual discussions.

"I will do my best with the responsibilities before me and carefully consider the direction in which I should move forward," he said, thanking fans for their unwavering support. As a result of the decision, he will likely miss the third event of the 2026-27 International Skating Union Grand Prix series, the "Cup of China," and the sixth event, the "NHK Trophy," for which he had already received invitations. His recent voluntary resignation from the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee's Athletes' Commission for personal reasons also appears to be part of the same shift.

Cha's decision, after leading Korean figure skating for many years, follows deep reflection after he earned a valuable fourth-place finish at the 2026 "Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics." A former child actor, he opened a new path in April by signing an exclusive contract with "Fantagio," a comprehensive entertainment company. In August, he further established himself as an entertainer by delivering a flawless performance in the lead role in "Solo Leveling on ICE," an ice show based on the popular webtoon.

Cha Jun-hwan is an unmatched figure who has left an unprecedented mark on the history of Korean figure skating. After emerging as a standout skater at Whimoon Middle School, he rose to prominence at the 2018 "PyeongChang Winter Olympics," finishing 15th and setting what was then the highest-ever placement by a Korean men's singles skater. He went on to build an extraordinary record that included a 2022 ISU "Four Continents Championships" title, a silver medal at the 2023 ISU "World Championships," and gold at the 2025 "Harbin Winter Asian Games." He has also demonstrated world-class ability on the Olympic stage, finishing fifth at the 2022 "Beijing Winter Olympics" before placing fourth at the 2026 "Milan Winter Olympics."