Ntional short-track speed skating athlete Kim Gun Woo has passed away at the age of 28.
On September 23rd, the sad news was announced through Kim Gun Woo’s personal Instagram account.
The obituary posted on the account read, “We regret to inform you that the late Kim Gun Woo passed away on September 23, 2026.”
It continued, “Please understand that due to the sudden and tragic news, we are unable to contact everyone individually. We would appreciate your warm condolences and prayers for the deceased’s peaceful journey. We respectfully pray for his soul.”
The last post on Kim Gun Woo’s personal account was uploaded on the 2nd of this month.
Earlier, on June 22, Kim Gun Woo had personally announced the end of his athletic career via his account.
At that time, he said, “Hello, this is Kim Gun Woo. I am now preparing to let go of short-track, which has been my entire life since I was young. Honestly, it still feels unreal. Having always lived thinking only of myself on the ice rink, even now as I deliver this message, I feel a heavy heart. During my career, there were moments of immense happiness beyond anyone’s, and times when I felt very tired and overwhelmed. But it was all those experiences that shaped who I am today.”
He added, “The moments representing the nation with the Taegeuk [traditional Korean symbol], the sweat shared with my teammates and coaches, and the support from fans will never be forgotten. I may have been a lacking athlete, but I sincerely thank everyone who supported and believed in me until the end. Thank you for sharing the brightest moments of my life.”
Finally, he expressed his support for the future of short-track, saying, “I will always cheer for short-track,” sending encouragement not only to Korea but to athletes continuing the sport worldwide.
With this sudden loss, condolences continue to pour in from those who remember him.
Kim Gun Woo, born in 1998, was a promising short-track athlete specializing in the 1500m event, known as a “devil’s talent.” He was selected for the national team at age 17 in 2015 but faced several disciplinary actions for alcohol-related issues and unauthorized entry into the athletes’ village. He later returned to the national team, winning the mixed 2000m relay gold medal at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games. However, he was only an alternate at the 2026 Olympic selection trials and did not compete in the Olympics.