His switch was both a personal choice and a professional redesign.
He trained as a national reserve athlete and landed triple axels in competition.
Today he performs with ENHYPEN and took part in the Olympic torch relay as a pop star.
"From Ice Dreams to Stage Dreams — Why Seonghun Made the Switch"
Overview
The change is clear.Seonghun, born Park Seonghun, skated competitively from around 2010 until early 2020.
He reached consistent results on the international circuit, including a junior silver at the 2014 national championships.
Technically, he was known for landing a triple axel.
Records from his skating career show he was more than a hobbyist.
He served on the national reserve team, gained international competition experience, and posted notable results.
However, the disappointment of never competing at the Olympics as an athlete stayed with him.
Meanwhile, he chose a second dream and became a member of a K-pop group.
Skating achievements
The record is straightforward.Seonghun's time as an athlete is best described by technique and competition experience.
He won a junior silver at domestic championships and collected medals at the Asian Open Trophy.
He also competed twice on the ISU Junior Grand Prix, gaining valuable international exposure.
These results mean more than numbers.
Figure skating pairs technical difficulty with artistic expression, so practice demands intense repetition and discipline.
Consequently, his youth was given over to a strict, demanding routine.
In the process, he learned to manage physical health, mental strain, and injury risk.
After the image, the narrative links his skating memories to his current work.
His technical skills carry over into stamina and stage performance.
In other words, the body control learned on skates refines movement on stage.
Thus, sports training and artistic learning are not separate paths but overlapping ones.
The transition process
Balancing both worlds was real.From roughly age 17 he spent about two years juggling life as a skater and a K-pop trainee.
Reports say he practiced on the ice in the morning and rehearsed singing and dancing in the afternoon and evening.
That schedule demanded advanced time management, endurance, and goal-setting skills.
This process was not merely a job change.
Rather than abandoning one side for the other, he moved between both and developed a unique mix of skills and sensibilities.
Sometimes the discipline required in sport helped him endure trainee life, and stage experience broadened his expressive range in competition.
He also describes skating as a "friend of many years" and speaks of it with affection, showing he retains genuine attachment to the sport.
Competing perspectives
Debate exists.This section presents balanced views on career switching.
Proponents emphasize three main points.
First, professional flexibility. From this angle, Seonghun's choice is a rational response to the uncertain lifespan of sports careers.
Athletes face high risks from injury and results that can abruptly change their paths.
Therefore, shifting toward or combining an entertainment career can be a strategy for long-term stability.
Second, skill transfer. Balance, expression, and stage confidence from skating directly support K-pop performance.
Third, greater social reach. The intersection of sport and pop culture can introduce athletic pursuits to wider audiences; his role in the torch relay is seen as a bridge between sport and culture.
On the other hand, critics raise several concerns.
First, risk to specialized expertise. Deep focus in one field builds the edge required at the highest international levels; switching early can mean foregoing peak potential.
Second, identity strain. The habits, expectations, and daily life of an athlete differ from those of an entertainer, and juggling both can make full commitment to either role difficult.
Third, public-role tension. Athletes are often framed as national representatives and role models, while idols are commercial cultural figures; this difference can create confusion over public expectations.
Comparing both views shows no absolute answer.
Importantly, an individual's choice involves balancing safety, growth, and identity management.
Furthermore, institutional support matters: structured career-transition education, retraining opportunities, and mental-health services can reduce the risks of switching.
Conversely, lack of support raises the chance that talent will be underused.
Symbolism at the 2026 Milan Games
Placement matters.Seonghun took part in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics torch relay as a performer.
He has said he still feels the regret of not qualifying for the Olympics as a skater, yet he also described it as an honor to represent Korea on that stage as an idol.
This moment is a personal reinterpretation of achievement.
For Seonghun the Olympics were once an athlete's goal; now they are a chance to promote his country through culture.
Meanwhile, this shift matters in a cultural moment where generations see sport and entertainment intersecting, creating new kinds of national representation.
Also, this path can help later generations of athletes imagine alternative careers beyond competition.
The image underscores that sports history and pop activity are not separate.
Seonghun’s story highlights the need for flexibility in career planning.
From the perspective of vocational training and lifelong learning, retraining and continued education are vital resources for athletes preparing for life after sport.
Conclusion and recommendations
The meaning deserves attention.Seonghun’s path is more than a single job switch; it functions as a bridge between two fields.
His choice reflects the intersection of personal desire and practical judgement, with education, health, and stress management serving as key variables.
An important takeaway from Seonghun’s story is that how a transition is managed and whether social support exists can change the outcome.
In short, Seonghun’s career shift shows new possibilities at the crossroads of sport and culture.
Society should offer more flexible vocational programs and retraining so athletes can design stable lives after retirement.
Meanwhile, fans and the public should try to appreciate the effort and sacrifice behind a celebrity's choice rather than treating it as mere entertainment.
In summary, Seonghun’s transition is a reconstruction of a personal dream, and broader institutional support can unlock more opportunities.
What do you think: is crossing from sport into pop culture the right move for young athletes?
