Junior Grand Prix Final 2025: Seo Minkyu Becomes First Republic of Korea Skater to Win Title Since Yuna Kim
The figure skating world is buzzing with excitement as Seo Minkyu, at just 17 years old, has made history by becoming the first male skater from the Republic of Korea to claim victory at the Junior Grand Prix Final. The iconic event took place in Nagoya, Japan, on December 5, 2025, where Seo outperformed world junior champion Nakata Rio, solidifying his position on the top of the podium.
Seo displayed impressive skills throughout the competition, achieving personal bests during both the men’s free skate (171.09) and overall score (255.91). “I’m very happy to have achieved my personal best and delivered a perfect performance in free skating,” said Seo. He aims to continuously enhance his technique, stating, “For the next competition, I will work even harder to earn a higher score.”
The last time a Republic of Korea skater won a Junior Grand Prix Final was in the women’s event in 2010, thanks to Yuna Kim, Olympic champion and a figure skating legend. Seo, however, is cautious about drawing direct comparisons: “I still have a long way to go to follow in Yuna Kim’s footsteps. I will work harder to become a great skater like her.”
Seo’s free program, choreographed by his fellow Olympic champion Patrick Chan, featured an exhilarating score to “Exogenesis.” The segment kicked off with a stunning quad Salchow, followed by eight triples, including three in jump combinations and top-level spins. In contrast, Nakata Rio, who had led after the short program, faltered and dropped to second place.
Nakata deposited an overall score of 249.70, just behind Seo, gaining accolades but confessing to struggles during his performance: “I was nervous, and I thought I had won it when the performance ended but… I just wasn’t good at all.” Meanwhile, USA’s Lucius Kazanecki made a solid move from fourth to third place with a respectable free skate score of 153.72.
This thrilling competition highlights a bright future for figure skating in the Republic of Korea, affirming Seo Minkyu’s position as a rising star within the sport.
