South Korea's skating syndrome Choi Ha-bin/ Courtesy of NEXT CREATIVE

A star was born. Choi Ha-bin, 15, thrilled figure skating fans earlier this month at the Korea Skating Union's national championship, where he competed to secure one of five spots on the national team.

On the ice, Choi was fearless, flawless and masterful. Skating to the soundtrack of the 2004 Korean War film "TaeGukGi: Brotherhood of War," he captivated spectators with his opening quadruple jump, followed by two triple axels and other challenging technical elements. His performance was nothing short of jaw-dropping, leaving the audience in awe.

As he completed his free program, the applause erupted like thunder. His coach, visibly satisfied, tapped him on the shoulder and exclaimed, "What a performance!" Noticing the young skater's bright smile, she teased him, saying, "Now you're smiling! You didn't when you finished the short program."

For longtime figure skating fans, Ha-bin evokes memories of Nathan Chen, the retired U.S. skater who won the men's singles gold medal at the 2022 Olympics. Like Chen, Choi is a natural jumper.

Choi has said that Chen is his role model, and he hopes to follow in his footsteps to become a top-level skater. "Chen is not only great at jumps, but also at other technical elements," he said during a recent interview with The Korea Times.

At the national championship, Choi successfully landed two quadruple jumps — one in the short program and another in the long program — as well as three triple axels, including one in the short and two in the long program. Quadruples and triple axels are among the most difficult jumps in figure skating, and skaters spend years perfecting them. Choi is the only junior Korean skater to land a quadruple jump successfully and is one of just two male junior skaters globally capable of executing such sophisticated jumps.

"I love jumping; it gives me a thrill," Choi said, explaining his passion for these challenging maneuvers. When asked about his secret to executing such high-quality jumps, he confidently replied, "You can't do it if you're not confident."

Choi made his international debut at the International Skating Union (ISU) competition in Bangkok last September. Unlike many skaters who find their first international competition nerve-wracking, Choi was energized by the experience. "I enjoyed it and had a lot of fun," he said, showcasing a maturity and excitement beyond his years.

Choi first discovered figure skating during a weeklong program during summer break when he was 8 years old.

"Before that, Ha-bin was really into football and loved it," his mother, Han Hyo-sook, recalled. "He told me he liked figure skating and wanted to do it more often. He especially loved practicing jumps and would keep at them until he mastered them. He seems to have a gut feeling about whether he can land a jump or not. If he's confident, he attacks it like a storm and nails it."

His coach, Choi Hyung-kyung, praised the teen's natural talent.

"Ha-bin performs very dynamic jumps," she said. "He skates incredibly fast and uses that speed to execute outstanding jumps, which makes them exceptional."

According to his coach, Ha-bin is a quick learner, though she also noted areas where he can continue to grow. "There's no doubt that he's talented when it comes to jumping, but his performances in other technical elements still have room for improvement," she explained. "He's not quite at that top level yet in those elements, so there's definitely potential for growth."

Korea has experienced an Olympic medal drought in figure skating since the legendary Kim Yuna won a gold medal in women's singles at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Kim remains an exceptional skater, and no Korean figure skater has won an Olympic medal before or after her historic achievement.

Kim's victory inspired many young children to pursue figure skating as a career. Over the past 15 years the nation has seen the rise and fall of several skaters who made an impact at ISU competitions.

At the 2023 ISU World Championships, two Korean skaters won silver medals in senior men's and women's singles: Cha Jun-hwan and Lee Hae-in. Junior athletes have also made their mark at ISU events. Shin Ji-a became a three-time silver medalist in women's singles at the ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships since 2021, and in men's singles, Seo Min-kyu won gold at last year's ISU Junior Figure Skating Championships.

Choi Ha-bin / Courtesy of NEXT CREATIVE

As the pool of skating talent in Korea continues to grow, a question arises: Who will be the first Korean figure skater to end the nation's Olympic medal drought since Kim Yuna?

Considering the rapid improvement in his overall skills, Choi Ha-bin appears to be one of the strongest candidates to make it happen. However, due to age restrictions, his first opportunity to compete in the Winter Olympics will be at the 2030 Games in France.

While Choi is cautious about discussing his Olympic ambitions, he remains focused on the short term. "I will keep practicing to become a more competitive skater," he said, keeping his sights on the future.

Figure skating is a sport that requires significant financial investment and immense mental support from family members, especially parents. The sacrifices made by other family members are often inevitable, as one parent is expected to dedicate much of their time to supporting their child.

Like many other skating mothers, Ha-bin's mother, Han shoulders this responsibility.

She said that as a parent, she is fully committed to helping him achieve his dream. Han's day begins with driving Ha-bin to school, followed by trips to one of three ice rinks — in southwestern Seoul's Mok-dong and the Gyeonggi Province cities of Gimpo and Gwacheon. Because there are no ice rinks exclusively for figure skaters, she has to carefully plan her son's training schedule and take him to whichever rink is available.

"I have a lot of downtime every day because I have nothing to do but wait for my son while he practices at the rink or works out at the gym," she said. Despite the inconveniences, she emphasizes that they are manageable.

"Ha-bin is a self-motivated child. He does what he needs to do without complaining. He chooses everything, from the music he'll skate to, to the jumps he wants to practice. As a mother, I just give him options and let him decide," she explained.

As the mother of two children — Ha-bin and his younger sister, she said balancing time and providing emotional support for both kids has been one of her biggest challenges.

"I drive a lot to take Ha-bin to the ice rink. He practices seven days a week, even on weekends," she said. "Because of that, it's hard to find time to spend with my daughter at home."

Over time, Han has come to realize just how challenging it is to be the mother of a figure skater. "I used to just watch his performances when he competed. But being a spectator has become tougher because I'm constantly worried about different things. What if he gets injured? What if his performance doesn't go as planned, and he's disappointed? And if that happens, what should I do?" she reflected. "These are the kinds of things I'm grappling with now."

Choi Ha-bin will be competing in the men's singles at the 2025 ISU World Junior Figure Skating Championships to be held in Debrecen, Hungary, between Feb. 25 and March 2. Defending champion Seo Min-kyu will also compete there.