Kim fever grips Korea, boosts Games bid efforts (News Feature)

By Hannah Bae Feb 26, 2010, 18:10 GMT

Seoul - As South Korean figure skater Kim Yu-Na glided elegantly to gold on the ice in Vancouver, her countrymen were watching with bated breath.

Whether in taxi cabs, dentist chairs, restaurants, a train station or the office, it seemed all of South Korea was tuned to local broadcaster SBS's coverage of the ladies' singles competition.

'I feel like my chest is going to explode,' said SBS commentator Bang Sang-Ah in the middle of Kim's record-breaking performance, aired just after the lunch hour.

A mass of hundreds of spectators crowded Seoul station, a railway hub located in the centre of the city on Friday afternoon to see the country's biggest celebrity deliver on their hopes of South Korea's first Winter Games gold medal outside of speed skating.

A similar jam of people had congregated at the train station Wednesday afternoon for the short programme.

'I was in a cab,' said Brian Park, an English teacher who lives in southern Seoul, who watched from the driver's portable TV. 'Usually I hate when taxi drivers have miniscreens (in their cabs), but I guess I was glad I caught some of it.'

Even trading on Seoul's stock markets abated during Kim's free skate. From 1.20 to 1.35 pm, during her routine and in its wake, trading volume for each five-minute period was 1,851 shares - half the 3,269 traded in the five minutes before, the Korea Exchange reported.

In Vancouver, as fans waved signs bearing Kim's nickname, 'Queen Yu-Na,' SBS commentator Bae Gi-Wan remarked, 'She's Queen Yu-Na indeed.'

Much of the staff from the Olympic champion's agency, IB Sports, was in Vancouver for the occasion, according to Moon Dae-Hoon in the company's marketing division in Seoul.

Speaking from Vancouver, IB Sports' vice president Koo Donghui affirmed that Kim's victory would be big news for the agency.

'Coach Brian [Orser] and choreographer David [Wilson] did the best job, and we are really happy to be her management,' Koo said. 'But Yu-Na achieved this all by herself.'

The South Korean government also expressed its pride in her performance.

'I share the delight and pride with all the Korean citizens,' wrote Jeon Seong-Oh, director of public relations at the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism, in an e-mailed statement to German Press Agency dpa.

'It is also encouraging to note that through this Vancouver Olympics, the Republic of Korea has joined the ranks of the world's strongest powerhouses in skating.'

But while Kim may be on top of the world, the work is not over for her or for South Korea as a whole.

The government is pushing to translate its athletes' strong showing at Vancouver into a successful bid for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, and Jeon expressed hope that Kim's gold would boost their efforts.

In addition, local media were eager to name Kim's younger teammate, Kwak Min-Jung, 16, her successor, dubbing her 'Little Kim Yu-Na.' But Kwak has a long way to go, as she placed 13th overall in only her second senior competition.

Meanwhile, according to Koo, the Olympic champion will set her sights on the next world championships, set for Turin, Italy in March.

But for now, she and the rest of South Korea will be celebrating.