Seo hopes for bright future in Korean racing

Professional racing driver Seo Ju-won walks along the track during the 2015 Korea Speed Festival at the Korea International Circuit in Yeongam-gun, South Jeolla Province, on Sept. 26. / Courtesy of Seo Ju-won

By Kim Jae-heun

Seo Ju-won, 21, is the youngest racecar driver in the professional Korean league, but he has marked the most wins this year, becoming the Genesis Coupe 20 champion at the 2015 Korea Speed Festival.

His success at an early age follows a tragic accident in 2011. Seo injured his shoulder seriously, which could’ve brought an end to his racing career at 17. But the young driver turned his misfortune into opportunity.

“My championship title was almost definite when I got my injury,” said Seo during an interview with The Korea Times last Wednesday. “While going through surgery, I thought that I could never get back on the race track again. But I returned in June in the following year with a cast on my arm and I won the race.”

Seo revealed that he watched various European racing videos while he was recovering and he discovered a new braking technique that uses the principle of inertia. His new technique has improved his record 0.2 seconds short, which is a decisive advantage to win a race.

Seo also emphasized his early go-kart-racing experience abroad as a major reason for his dominance in the Korean league now. According to the young racer, it is best to start racing at the age of six or so, although he drove his first kart when he was a teenager. But Seo sought his own strength in building international experience, becoming the first Korean to win the world kart championship at Kota SL Series DD2 in Japan in 2013. Only a small handful of Korean racers have won international competition crowns in the league.

“In Japan, you start kart-racing at a young age to become a racer, but only four Korean drivers in the league currently went through this elite course. There is a definite difference in quality between those who started racing early or late,” Seo said.

“You can have 11 years of career if you began riding a kart at age eight or nine before you become a professional. Even in Korea, all the first, second and third rankers are drivers who grew up competing in kart races. There are differences in muscular endurance and instinct driving senses such as quick reactions and reflexes.”

Seo first participated in the Korean Kart Championship when he was 14. It was the only kart competition in Korea and the young driver had to compete with adult racers. Seo has raced in over 70 competitions so far.

He once dreamed of becoming the first Korean Formula One driver until very recently, but has changed his mind.

“I hate to say this because my opinion can discourage younger drivers with big dreams, but Korea has limits in support,” he said. “Racing is all about money. It’s not like some few hundred million won is needed to make you the Kim Yu-na of racing. It requires a minimum of ten billion won to support one racer.”

Seo also pointed out that there are no Korean politicians in international racing organizations who can support young Korean racers outside the country.

The young driver wants to become a racer recognized by his junior colleagues. He is also interested in training younger racers.

“It is our job to make our junior colleagues successful if my generation wants to be credited in the next 10 years,” Seo said. “I see and hope for a bright future for Korean racers.”