The outlook for South Korean snow sports is looking increasingly promising as the country gears up for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Traditionally overshadowed by ice sports, South Korean snowboarding and freestyle skiing are poised to make their mark, with the potential for multiple medals, including the country’s first gold medal in these disciplines.
Historically, South Korea’s best Olympic performance in snow sports dates back to the 2018 PyeongChang Games when snowboarder Lee Sang-ho, affectionately known as “Baechu Boy,” secured a silver medal in the men’s parallel giant slalom. Eight years later, with a vastly improved talent pool, the narrative is shifting dramatically.
At this upcoming Olympics, South Korea will field 11 athletes across five snowboarding disciplines. The first athletes to chase medals will be Lee Sang-ho and Kim Sang-gyeom. Highlighting his readiness for competition, Lee recently clinched the gold medal at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Snowboard World Cup in the men’s parallel giant slalom, marking his fourth World Cup victory. His victory in a nail-biting final against veteran Roland Fischnaller has set the stage for a multi-medal quest at the Games.
Furthermore, a rising star capturing attention is Choi Ga-eun, who was highlighted by Forbes as a top contender against Chloe Kim, the three-time Olympic champion vying for her fourth consecutive win in the halfpipe event. Just 14 years old and the youngest winner of the X Games pipe event, Choi has dominated every World Cup event she participated in this season while Kim is currently sidelined due to a shoulder injury.
The medal expectations extend beyond snowboarding. In freestyle skiing, noteworthy progress is evident, with Jung Dae-yun, who secured a bronze medal at last year’s World Championships in mogul skiing, targeting two Olympic golds. Additionally, Lee Seung-hoon and Moon Hee-sung are considered strong medal contenders in the men’s ski halfpipe, with Lee having already shown that he can surpass prior limits in competition.
The prospect of South Korea pursuing medals not only in snowboarding but also across multiple snow sports at the Olympics marks a significant and hopeful change in the country’s winter sports narrative. Milan is poised to be a stage where these aspirations can become reality, driven by Lee Sang-ho’s consistency, Choi Ga-eun’s explosive talent, and the overall upward trend in freestyle skiing. The Korean contingent is ready to shift the conversation from mere participation to tangible outcomes in these Olympic disciplines.