“Could Milan really have been his last time on the ice?” Figure Skating Prince Cha Jun-hwan abruptly gives up his national-team place and chooses a “new life”

[Financial News] Cha Jun-hwan (24), an emblematic figure in South Korean men’s singles figure skating and the “Prince of the Ice,” is suddenly stepping away from the unforgiving world of competition. His fourth-place finish after a wholehearted performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, held in February, is expected to be the last of his competitions we see for some time.
On the 12th, Cha Jun-hwan made a decision that took fans by surprise, announcing it on social media. “After finishing last season, I spent a great deal of time thinking and reflecting on what I would do next,” he said. “After much deliberation, I’ve decided not to continue my national-team activities or compete in events this season,” he announced in a bombshell statement.
His decision was firm. Cha Jun-hwan said he had also concluded his contract with Seoul City Hall, with which he had had a long-standing relationship, after thorough discussions on both sides. “I sincerely thank the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul City Hall officials who have believed in me and supported me wholeheartedly,” he said in a farewell message.


After recently stepping down from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission for personal reasons, he now appears likely to decline invitations to the third and sixth events of the 2026–27 International Skating Union (ISU) Grand Prix series—the Cup of China and the NHK Trophy, respectively. Speculation is widespread that he is effectively embarking on the path to retirement.
Cha Jun-hwan’s attention is now turning beyond the ice. “I want to do my best with the things in front of me now and carefully consider what direction to take from here,” he said, leaving a curious lingering impression.
In fact, his unconventional moves had already been apparent since early this year. With the unusual background of having been a child actor, he signed an exclusive contract with the major entertainment agency Fantagio last April, signaling his entry into the entertainment industry. Then, in August, he was cast as the lead in Solo Leveling on Ice, an ice show based on the globally popular K-webtoon, broadening his range as a “popular culture artist” rather than a professional athlete.



Cha Jun-hwan, who dominated the ice with his exceptional skill from his days at Hwimun Middle School, was the very “living history” of South Korean men’s singles figure skating.
He burst onto the scene with a 15th-place finish at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, setting a new national best. He went on to build an impressive record, winning the 2022 ISU Four Continents Championships, taking silver at the 2023 ISU World Championships, and winning gold at the 2025 Harbin Asian Winter Games. After placing fifth at the 2022 Beijing Games, he fought tirelessly to finish fourth at this Milan Olympics, but is said to have found himself deeply conflicted about continuing his career after once again falling just short of a medal.
The first act of Cha Jun-hwan’s career, spent carrying the South Korean flag on his chest and competing against the world, pauses here for now. But the dazzling second act, in which he will step into the spotlight as an “entertainer,” has only just begun.


[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter