Will Victor Ahn and Kim Seon-tae return to Korea?
Seongnam city hall short track coach position support
Korean Skating Instructors Federation Statement of Concern
▲ Victor Ahn attending an interview with the ice team coach at Seongnam City Hall
Victor Ahn (Korean name Ahn Hyun-soo) attends an interview for the coaching position of the ice team at Seongnam City Hall held at Seongnam City Hall in Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 12th. 2023.1.12 Yonhap News
When Victor Ahn (37, Korean name Ahn Hyeon-soo) and former Chinese national team coach Kim Seon-tae (46) applied for the short track coach position at Seongnam City Hall, the Korea Skating Instructors Federation voiced their concerns through a statement.
On the 13th, the Leaders Federation said, “If you look at the open recruitment process for short track coaches for the workplace sports department in Seongnam City, there are not only a few things to be concerned about. I urge Seongnam City to appoint a coach that meets the public eye level,” he said.
In a statement, the federation said, “The reason why Korean ice skating has lost trust from the public is not because of silk performance. This is because they have covered up crimes rooted in the ice skating world, such as sexual violence and assault, with all sorts of lies under the name of grades.” got lucky
Referring to former Chinese national team coach Kim Seon-tae, the federation pointed out that “former coach Kim was severely punished by the Korea Ice Skating Federation for suspending his leadership qualifications after assault and sexual violence within the national team were revealed immediately after the Olympics during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.”
Regarding Viktor Ahn, he claimed that he lied during the naturalization process. The federation said, “Russian Viktor Ahn gave up his Korean citizenship and naturalized as a Russian citizen, and when the controversy arose about betraying his country, he explained, ‘I knew dual citizenship would be possible. However, it was later revealed that he received an Olympic gold medal pension in a lump sum just before naturalization. He knew in advance that dual citizenship was not allowed, and after taking his money as a lump sum, he pretended not to know.”
The federation said, “These two made it difficult to work as domestic leaders due to discipline and controversy, so instead of self-restraint, they chose to take charge of the Chinese national team for the Beijing Winter Olympics.” We cannot go beyond fairness, which is our top priority.”
Finally, the federation said, “Seongnam City is the mecca of ice skating in Korea. By appointing a coach that meets the public’s eye level, the Korean ice skating rink must become a stepping stone to regain public trust and move forward,” he said. is not the appearance of Performance is important, but what Korean ice skating needs now is to restore public trust,” he said, opposing the return of the two to Korea.
▲ Chinese short track coach Kim Sun-tae and Ahn Hyun-soo (Russian name Viktor Ahn) technical coach. 2022.2.5 Yonhap News
Russia→China→Korea?… Ahn Hyun-soo
Victor Ahn was a Korean short track speed skater who won three gold medals at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics. In 2011, when Seongnam City Hall, the team he belonged to at the time, disbanded the ice team due to financial problems, he naturalized as a Russian citizen to continue his career as an athlete.
At the time of naturalization, he received an annual salary of about 180 million Korean won and a mansion from Russia in return for passing on the training methods and skills of Korean players. He was named Viktor An after Koryoin-born rock singer Viktor Choi, and received a lump sum of four years of Olympic gold medal pension right before naturalization. On his mini-hompy, he wrote, “I heard that if you acquire Russian citizenship, your Korean nationality will automatically expire. I thought dual citizenship would be possible, but I wasn’t careful.”
The 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, which he used as his retirement stage, was not able to participate in the Russian doping scandal. After completing his career as an athlete, Victor An turned into a coach and then served as the coach of the Chinese national team at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
He said that he decided to naturalize because he wanted to focus on sports. There may be people who look at it with a bad eye, but it’s my choice, so I’m prepared.” Afterwards, he joined the Chinese national team after being offered a coaching position by China’s Meng Wang, who is notorious for his harsh commentary.
Viktor An, who served as the technical coach of the Chinese short track team, helped China win four medals (2 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze) in short track at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. After finishing the Beijing Olympics, he said, “I felt new and honored. He said that the most memorable match was his first match, the 2000 Gm Mixed Relay,” and that he would return to Korea to discuss future plans.
Victor Ahn said, “I know that there are many people who are disappointed and disappointed with my choice, but the most painful and difficult thing for me right now is that my family, who have done nothing wrong, are hurt and suffer. I ask that you refrain from reckless abusive language or malicious comments towards my family who are struggling to meet me.”
Passed the document screening of Seongnam City Hall… Interview Appearance
Viktor Ahn showed up at an interview for the coach position of the ‘Seongnam City Hall ice team’ held at Seongnam City Hall in Gyeonggi Province on the 12th, and began earnestly starting his return to Korea after 12 years of naturalization as a Russian citizen. Viktor Ahn, who appeared with a bright expression, was reported to have entered the interview waiting room without any response to the reporters’ questions.
A total of seven people, including Viktor Ahn, applied for the ice team coaching position at Seongnam City Hall, and Seongnam City plans to announce the successful candidates at the end of this month.
Reporter Yumin Kim
