The return to Korea of Victor Ahn (38, Korean name Ahn Hyun-soo), a former national short track team member who applied for the coaching position of the ice team at Seongnam City Hall, was canceled.
According to Seongnam city officials on the 30th, it was confirmed that Victor Ahn was not in the top two multiple candidates. 안전놀이터
A total of 7 people applied for this recruitment open to select one coach. Victor Ahn visited Seongnam City Hall on the 12th and had a 20-minute interview. In response to a reporter’s question about the reason for applying, he said, “I have nothing to say. I will tell you later when the (recruitment) process is completed and an opportunity arises.” The final announcement of successful applicants will be made on the 31st, but Viktor Ahn was not included in the top 2 multiple candidates.
Seongnam City is known to have comprehensively judged travel factors such as technology and communication skills as well as public opinion and media coverage during this selection process.
Having won three men’s gold medals at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, he left Korea in 2011. When his team, the Seongnam City Hall Ice Team, was disbanded due to financial problems, he was naturalized in Russia and changed his name to Viktor Ahn. He won three gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics for Russia. He won a total of six gold medals alone at the Olympics on two occasions. After retiring in 2020, he served as technical coach for the Chinese short track team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
When the news of Viktor Ahn’s return was announced, the Korea Ice Skating Leaders Federation issued a statement and protested. The Federation of Leaders said, “Russian Viktor Ahn gave up his Korean citizenship and naturalized as a Russian citizen, and when there was a controversy over betraying his country, he explained, ‘I knew dual citizenship would be possible.’ “Seongnam City urges the appointment of a manager (coach) that meets the people’s eye level. In order for Korean ice skating to be trusted and loved by the people, the leader’s honest work ethic and healthy mindset are important,” he said.
Currently, Seongnam City Hall is home to national team members Choi Min-jung, Kim Gil-li, and Kim Gun-hee. After the Beijing Olympics, Victor Ahn pushed for a trip to Korea even after receiving a four-year long-term contract offer from a foreign team. However, after controversy, it was eventually canceled.
Meanwhile, former coach Kim Seon-tae, who applied for the coaching job along with Victor Ahn, was also eliminated. Coach Kim led the Korean short track team at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics and coached the Chinese national team at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
