Here’s How A Korean Skater Plans To Avoid Unfair Treatment After His Controversial Elimination At The 2022 Olympics

South Koreans have been riled up lately with the kick-off of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. During a controversial short-track speed skating mixed teams relay, the Korean team had initially entered the pre-semifinals but were dropped from the semifinals and did not advance to the finals as such. Although they had been selected to move up during the pre-semifinals, after a video replay, they were disqualified. The Chinese team, who was next in line, was chosen to advance to the semifinals.

Korean team athletes crying after the match. | Yonhap NewsAdditionally, Hwang Dae Heon was disqualified from the men’s 1000m semifinals despite finishing first. While he had been disqualified after being judged to have an infraction, Koreans have been protesting the decision. From a video of the match, Koreans claim that the Chinese athlete pushed Hwang Dae Heon in the knee.

어이없다 황대헌 선수는 오히려 닿을까봐 손 움츠리는데 중국 선수는 대놓고 무릎 밀어내고 잇잖아 ㅋㅋㅋㅋ 근데 황대헌 선수가 패널티라고??? pic.twitter.com/TaIDb80Dtp

— 물결 (@ondeXonda) February 7, 2022

I’m so speechless. Hwang Dae Heon even scrunched up his arm so as to avoid touching him but the Chinese athlete is just pushing Hwang Dae Heon by the knee so blatantly LOL and they gave Hwang Dae Heon a penalty?

— @ondeXonda

The press flocked after the heated match to ask Hwang Dae Heon for a statement. He left the grounds that day without comment however. On February 8, 2022, he was approached by the media once again. They asked about his plans for the 1500m match to take place on February 9, 2022. He also addressed how he felt about the previous match.

Hwang Dae Heon. | @daeheon_hwang/Instagram

I just went in for it after calculating it with my eyes. For tomorrow’s match, I want to play it more cleanly if I can but (after the previous match) I’ll definitely try to play it cleaner.

— Hwang Dae Heon

Hwang Dae Heon | @daeheon_hwang/Instagram

As the media pressed for his upcoming play and strategy, he declined to comment.

I’ll not respond to that. There are too many people that know how to speak Korean.

— Hwang Dae Heon

Many speculate that he is referring to the technical coach on the Chinese team, Ahn Hyun Soo, and the movement director, Kim Seon Tae. Both are Koreans that had been hired to coach the Chinese national team.

Wishing him all the best in the upcoming match!