The Olympic flame is getting closer to its final destination for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympic Games, and ENHYPEN member Sunghoon is one of the fortunate few in responsibility of putting the torch relay to an end in its long-awaited last leg.
After more than two months, the Olympic torch relay will complete its 60th and final step on February 5, arriving in Milan one day before the Games begin, with the big opening ceremony taking place at San Siro. Sunghoon, 23, is traveling to Italy with thousands of other athletes from around the world; he will officially become a torchbearer at roughly 3 p.m. local time, as the relay enters its final 24 hours.
Winter sports, both in fiction and in reality, are experiencing a surge in popularity, and the Winter Olympics are only adding to that trend, which Sunghoon hopes to fuel. Sunghoon’s selection as a torchbearer is an appropriate tribute to the idol’s previous career as a figure skater, and he is not taking the responsibility lightly.
Teen Vogue: Congratulations on being chosen as a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics! Do you remember where you were when you learned you were going to participate in the torch relay?
Sunghoon: I was in my firm! One of the staff members approached me and told me. I was simply deeply moved and overjoyed because, as you are probably aware, I competed in figure skating for ten years and it had always been my dream to compete in the Olympics. I now work as an artist rather than an idol, but being able to stay linked to my ambition is a huge honor for me.
TV: As you mentioned, coming to the Olympics was your goal. Maybe it isn’t what you expected, but you’re going to the Olympics. Does it still feel like a dream come true? Does it still feel like a pinch-me moment to you?
Sunghoon: Yes! However, I am no longer an athlete, and I am not engaging as an athlete, so it is a little different. When I was an athlete, it was my dream to demonstrate my abilities. Now I can be a part of the Olympics, cheering and rooting for the athletes. That still means a lot to me: I get to be a part of this journey, in charge of motivating others, including the athletes, which makes me feel important as an athlete-turned-artist. So, while it takes a different form, it feels like a great dream is coming true for me.
TV: The torch relay has been extremely popular this year, with numerous high-profile participants. Kimi Antonelli, the Formula One driver, Jackie Chan, Snoop Dogg, actors Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie, and many others. You are only the second K-pop singer, after Jin of BTS, to take part in an Olympic torch relay overseas. How does this make you feel? Do you feel any pressure at all?
Sunghoon: First and foremost, that was my first time hearing other torchbearers’ names, and it is my great honor to be a part of this entire trip with these incredible people. Wow. I feel a lot of responsibility, but I know Jin did so well in the previous Olympics, so I’m going to make sure I run hard and do well too.
TV: Are you worried about any of the procedures? I understand how scary it might be to carry the Olympic flame. What is your greatest fear going into this?
Sunghoon: I do have concerns since it is such a significant event, and the weight of it is so great, so, yes, I do worry. I’m a little nervous, but this is such an honor for me. I’m not sure what to expect from a torch relay because I’ve never been before, but I’m just going to make myself at home and try my best!
TV: I believe it will be physically and metaphorically challenging, but you will succeed!
Sunghoon: Yes, I understand. [Laughs.] Even if the flame goes out during the relay, I know I have to continue running!
TV: In addition to becoming a torchbearer, you have served as a promotional ambassador for the Korean Sports and Olympic Committee since last year. Why did you believe it was important for you to take on that role? Why did it speak to you?
Sunghoon: As a former athlete, I understand athletes’ passion and the effort they put into their profession. I was a figure skater for a long period, so I thought that was a good excuse to become an ambassador. I thought I could do a good job, and the appointment was an honor. As part of ENHYPEN, I believe what we do best is share energy on stage with our fans and people all over the world, ensuring that we have a positive impact. I believe it works similarly for athletes. While they strive for records, many sports fans are affected and inspired by their performances. So, in that way, it’s really similar: sharing energy and having fun together.
Television: You mentioned ENHYPEN. I know you’re heading to Italy on your own, but ENHYPEN as a group has Olympic ties this time around: your song “SHOUT OUT” has been chosen as Korea’s official cheer song. What was your reaction when you learned that you would be performing the Korean national anthem during the Olympics?
Sunghoon: It is a great honor for the group and me that our track will be the official cheer song for the Korean team. We gave it a lot of thought, like thinking which of our tracks would be the best cheer song, and “SHOUT OUT” was at the top of my list. The song is about these lads shouting and raising their voices to the world. It’s a song full of confidence, and the lyrics are perfect for lifting people’s spirits. It was fitting for the occasion, and I’m overjoyed and happy that it will be the official cheer song for the Korean squad.
TV: If you were to choose your own personal cheer song, ENHYPEN or not, which would it be? What music do you listen to these days to raise your mood when you’re down?
Sunghoon: Oh. When I’m feeling blue or down, I listen to a lot of hardcore rock. For example, Metallica or Linkin Park. And recently, I listened to a lot of my remix of “Knife.”
TV: Thinking back on your experience with winter sports, what is your fondest recollection from your time skating?
Sunghoon: There are so many pleasant recollections. Ice hockey was the first winter sport I started playing. I was a timid, shy youngster, so my parents suggested I take up a sport, and I began my career with hockey. Looking back, I believe it was a wise decision on my part to begin playing ice hockey and participating in winter sports because it was something I felt I desperately needed.
So I started with ice hockey and then moved on to figure skating, which is when I really began to enjoy sports. I would exercise and practice every day, and I realized that only practice made perfect. You wouldn’t be able to perform a certain skill, but with enough practice, you’ll be able to master it, and you’ll have a tremendous sense of success. That was something I really enjoyed, and I was thrilled to do well in many events. I believe that because I was a figure skater, I was able to join ENHYPEN and become a more well-rounded artist.
TV: In another interview, you stated that you began training as an idol because you believed it would help you better your figure skating abilities. Is this true? And, clearly, there is a lot of crossover between the two worlds, so I’m curious what one thing you learnt from your time as an athlete that you believe helped your idol career.
Sunghoon: Yes! I trained to be an idol for a variety of reasons, one of which was to better my skills as a figure skater. Because figure skating is all about expression. It is vital. So many figure skaters pursue modern dancing, K-pop dances, or vocals to ensure that they can express themselves, and that is one of the reasons I began training, since I believed it would help.
But another reason was lurking at the back of my mind: perhaps this was another road I wanted to pursue in the future. So I had these varied thoughts in my head, then began training as an idol, and I believe it was mutually beneficial for all parties. Figure skating involves very simple, clear-cut, and attractive motions. As a trainee, I believe this helped me learn to dance. Many folks say I am a bit of a perfectionist. I believe it stems from my time as a figure skater because athletes are all about devotion, and they want to develop and hone their skills, and I did the same thing as a trainee, which I believe benefited me much.
So practicing to be an idol allowed me to be more expressive as a figure skater. And I have a great deal of perseverance because I used to be an athlete and figure skater.
TV: You trained for both simultaneously for two years. What was it like? Was it really difficult?
Sunghoon: It was difficult to be an idol trainee while also competing in figure skating. By day, I’d be at a rink practicing figure skating, and by night, I’d be at the company’s practice facilities. It wasn’t simple, but it turned out to be mutually beneficial. I had a lot of fun as an idol trainee. Maybe it was because I was learning something new for the first time, or maybe something in me clicked, or maybe it was because I was surrounded by friends my age who shared my aspirations, and I enjoyed exercising with them.
