Yuna Kim, Kim Yeon-koung meet for rare chat between sports legends
Yuna Kim, left, and Kim Yeon-koung / Captured from Kim Yeon-koung's YouTube channel
Two of South Korea’s most iconic athletes — volleyball superstar Kim Yeon-koung and figure skating legend Yuna Kim — held a rare on-camera conversation, uniting two figures who each reached the pinnacle of their sport.
Both defined an era in their respective fields and achieved global recognition before stepping away from competition. In a video posted to her YouTube channel, Kim Yeon-koung, who retired last year, described herself as “a first-year retiree” as she sought advice from Yuna Kim.
Media appearances after retirement were the first topic. During a Q&A segment, Yuna Kim was asked why she has largely avoided television and YouTube since retiring.
“I was constantly in the public spotlight from a very young age,” she said. “It left me feeling burdened, so I rarely appeared on broadcasts.”
She explained that she agreed to appear out of respect after being contacted directly. “I enjoyed watching the channel, so I thought it would be fun to join.”
She added that her company likely assumed she would decline, given how rarely she engages with media platforms. “Because I don’t usually do broadcasts, I think they naturally assumed I wouldn’t.”
“Viewers might find us appearing together a bit out of the blue,” she said. “But athletes rarely have the chance to share in-depth conversations like this on broadcasts. I thought it would be something different from typical entertainment programs.”
The conversation later turned to daily life after retirement. Yuna Kim said she has come to appreciate the ability to rest without anxiety, noting that during her competitive years even time off felt uneasy due to constant concerns about training and performance.
“I don’t exercise at all,” she admitted. “I know it’s needed for my health, but I just don’t.”
Kim Yeon-koung described a more indulgent adjustment period. After retiring, she said, she enjoyed late-night meals and alcohol — things she had avoided as an athlete. A medical checkup later revealed elevated cholesterol levels and liver enzyme readings, prompting her to return to regular exercise.
“If I don’t work out now, my body just feels stiff,” she said.
Yuna Kim, left, and Kim Yeon-koung / Captured from Kim Yeon-koung's YouTube channel
What the two queens admire in each other
The two also traded observations about each other’s sports. Kim Yeon-koung said she could imagine Yuna Kim as a volleyball setter, noting that the position demands strategic thinking and constant decision-making.
“It looked very different from what I do,” Yuna Kim said of volleyball. “It’s fascinating to see how the game unfolds live, with players reading each other and reacting in real time. It’s not something I ever experienced.”
She added that watching volleyball players jump often made her think Kim Yeon-koung would excel at figure skating jumps. Kim Yeon-koung responded with a laugh, pointing to the physical challenge.
“With my 192-centimeter frame, it wouldn’t be easy,” she said. “But I do think it would look striking.”
Kim Yeon-koung also expressed playful envy over Yuna Kim’s role as an ambassador for luxury fashion house Dior. When asked whether she had recently attended a Dior event, Yuna Kim replied, “Just yesterday.”
“How do you do that? I’m available too,” Kim Yeon-koung joked, giving Yuna Kim a thumbs-up. She added that seeing athletes serve as ambassadors for global brands was both impressive and inspiring.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.