Hanbok
Korean name
Hangul	한복 or 조선옷
Hanja	韓服 or 朝鮮옷
Revised Romanization	Hanbok or Joseon-ot
McCune–Reischauer	Hanbok or Chosŏn-ot

Hanbok (South Korea) or Chosŏn-ot (North Korea) is the traditional Korean dress. It is often characterized by vibrant colors and simple lines without pockets. Although the term literally means "Korean clothing", hanbok today often refers specifically to hanbok of Joseon Dynasty and is worn as semi-formal or formal wear during traditional festivals and celebrations. Hanbok starts since Gojoseon(B.C. 2333~B.C. 108). Gojoseon was first nation of Korea.^[1] You can find information at http://www.kgc.or.kr/kor/sim/200501/1_our.php and http://uriculture.com/s_menu.html?menu_mcat=100540&menu_cat=100001&img_num= The modern hanbok does not exactly follow the actual style as worn in Joseon dynasty since it went through some major changes during the 20th century for practical reasons.^[2]

Throughout history, Korea had a dual clothing tradition, in which rulers and aristocrats adopted different kinds of mixed foreign-influenced indigenous styles, while the commoners continued to use a distinct style of indigenous clothing that today is known as Hanbok.^[3][4]

Basic Composition and Design[link]

Traditional women's hanbok consists of jeogori, a blouse shirt or a jacket and chima, a wrap-around skirt, which is usually worn full. The ensemble is often called chima jeogori. Men's hanbok consists of jeogori and baji which means pants in Korea. The baji^[2] were baggy pants in traditional men's hanbok.

Jeogori[link]

Jeogori and chima

Jeogori is the basic upper garment of the hanbok, which has been worn by both men and women. It covers the arms and upper part of the wearer's body.^[5][6][7] The basic form of a jeogori consists of gil, git, dongjeong, goreum and sleeves. Gil (길) is the large section of the garment in both front and back side and git (깃) is a band of fabric that trims the collar. Dongjeong (동정) is a removable white collar placed over the end of the git and is generally squared off. The goreum (고름) are coat-strings that tie the jeogori.^[2] Women's jeogori may have kkeutdong (끝동), a different colored cuff placed at the end of the sleeves. There are two jeogori that may be the earliest surviving archaeological finds. One from a Yangcheon Heo Clan tomb is dated 1400-1450,^[8] while the other was discovered inside a statue of Buddha at Sangwonsa Temple (presumably left as an offering) that has been dated to the 1460s.^[9]

The form of Jeogori has changed over time.^[7] While men's jeogori remained relatively unchanged, women's jeogori dramatically shortened during Joseon dynasty, reaching its shortest length at the late 19th century. However, due to reformation efforts and practical reasons, modern jeogori for women is longer than its earlier counterpart. Nonetheless the length is still above the waist line. Traditionally, goreum were short and narrow, however modern goreum are rather long and wide. There are several types of jeogori according to fabric, sewing technique, and shape.^[7][8]

Chima[link]

Chima refers to "skirt" which is also called sang (裳) or gun (裙) in hanja.^[5][6][7] The underskirt, or petticoat layer is called sokchima. According to remaining murals of Goguryeo, and an earthen toy excavated from the neighborhood of Hwangnam-dong, Gyeongju, Goguryo women wore a chima first, and then jeogori over the chima, covering its belt.^[10][11]

Although striped, patchwork skirts, and gored skirts are known from the Goguryeo period,^[6] from the Joseon dynasty at least skirts were made from rectangular cloth that was pleated or gathered into a skirt band.^[12] This waistband extended past the skirt fabric itself, and formed ties so that the skirt could be fastened around the trunk of the body.^[13]

Sokchima was largely made in a similar way to the overskirts until the early 20th century when straps were added,^[14] later developing into a sleeveless bodice or 'reformed' petticoat.^[15] By the mid 20th century, some outer chima had also gained a sleeveless bodice, that was then covered by the jeogori.^[16][16]

Baji[link]

Baji refers to the lower part of the men's hanbok. It is the formal term for 'pants' in Korean. Compared to western style pants, it does not fit tightly. The roomy nature of the cloth is due to a design aimed at making the cloth ideal for sitting on the floor.^[17] It performs similar role today for modern trousers, but Baji is commonly used in Korea for any kinds of pants. There are two straps in front of baji, and a person can tighten up whenever needed.

Po[link]

This section requires expansion.

Po is a generic term referring to an outer robe or overcoat, which was worn mostly by men since the Goryeo period until the Joseon period.^[5][6] Durumagi is a variety of po that was worn to protect the cold. It had been widely worn as an outer robe over jeogori and baji. It is also called jumagui, juchaui, or juui.^[5][6][7]

Jokki and magoja[link]

Jokki (조끼) is a type of vest while magoja is an outer jacket. Although jokki and magoja were created at the end of the Joseon Dynasty in which the Western culture began to affect Korea, the garments have been considered parts of traditional clothing. Each is additionally worn over jeogori for warmth and style. Magoja was an originally Manchu style clothing, but was introduced to Korea after Heungseon Daewongun, the father of King Gojong returned from his political exile in Manchuria in 1887.^[7][18] Magoja derived from magwae that he wore at that time to protect cold weather of the region. It was good to keep warmth and easy to wear, so that magoja became popular in Korea. It is also called "deot jeogori" (literally "an outer jeogori") or magwae.^[7]

Magoja does not have git, band of fabric that trims the collar,^[2] goreum (tying strings) unlike jeogori and durumagi (overcoat). Magoja was originally a male garment, but later became a unisex clothing. The magoja for men has seop (섶, overlapped column on the front) and its length is longer than women's magoja, so that its both sides of the bottom are open. A magoja is made of a silk and is adorned with one or two buttons which are usually made from amber. In a male magoja, buttons are attached to the right side on contrary to women's magoja.^[7]

At first, women wore the magoja for style rather than as a daily outfit and especially Kaeseong people used to wear it a lot. It is made of a silk and the color for women tends to be a neutral color to harmonize with other garments such as jeogori and chima which are worn together. In spring and autumn, a pastel tone is used for the women's magoja, so that wearers could wear it over a jeogori for style. As for men's magoja worn during spring and summer, jade, green, gray, dark grey were used.^[7]

Children's hanbok[link]

Children's hanbok

In old days, Kkachi durumagi (literally "a magpie's overcoat") were worn as seolbim (설빔), new clothing and shoes worn on Seolnal, New Year's Day in the Korean calender, while at present, it is worn as a ceremonial garment for doljanchi, celebration for a baby's first birthday.^[19] It is a children's colorful overcoat.^[20] It was worn mostly by young boys.^[21] The clothes is also called obangjang durumagi which means "an overcoat of five directions".^[19] It was worn over jeogori (a jacket) and jokki (a vest) while the wearer could put jeonbok (a long vest) over it. Kkachi durumagi was also worn along with headgear such as bokgeon (a peaked cloth hat),^[22][23] hogeon (peaked cloth hat with a tiger pattern) for young boys or gulle (decorative headgear) for young girls.^[6][24]

Modern hanbok for children consists of only two or three pieces and can be put on easily. They are usually made of less expensive fabrics since they are only worn once or twice a year during bigger holidays like Chuseok and Seolnal. Children are also dressed up in hanbok on their first birthday, dol.^[25][26]

Occasions[link]

Hwarot, bride clothes.

Hanbok is classified according to its purposes: everyday dress, ceremonial dress and special dress. Ceremonial dresses are worn on formal occasions, including a child's first birthday, a wedding or a funeral. Special dresses are made for shamans and officials.^[27]

History[link]

Antiquity[link]

The hanbok can trace its origin to nomadic clothing in the Scytho-Siberian cultural sphere of northern Asia, widespread in ancient times.^[28][29] The earliest evidence of this common style of northern Asia can be found in the Xiongnu burial site of Noin Ula in northern Mongolia,^[30] and earliest evidence of hanbok's basic design features can be traced to ancient wall murals of Goguryeo before the 3rd century BCE.^[31][32]

Reflecting its nomadic origins in northern Asia, hanbok was designed to facilitate ease of movement and also incorporated many shamanistic motifs. From this time, the basic structure of hanbok, namely the jeogori jacket, baji pants, and the chima skirt, was established. Short, tight trousers and tight, waist-length jackets were worn by both men and women during the early years of the Three Kingdoms of Korea period. The basic structure and these basic design features of hanbok remains relatively unchanged to this day.^[33]

Toward the end of the Three Kingdoms period, noblewomen began to wear full-length skirts and hip-length jackets belted at the waist and noblemen began to wear roomy trousers bound in at the ankles and a narrow, tunic-style jacket cuffed at the wrists and belted at the waist.

Although most foreign influence on Hanbok didn't last or was superficial, Mongolian clothing is an exception as the only foreign influence that made significant visible changes to Hanbok. After Goryeo Dynasty (918–1392) signed peace treaty with the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, Mongolian princesses who married into Korean royal house brought with them Mongolian fashion which began to prevail in both formal and private life.^[29][34][35] As a result of this influence, the chima skirt was shortened, and jeogori was hiked up above the waist and tied at the chest with a long, wide ribbon, the goruem (instead of being belted) and the sleeves were curved slightly. Cultural exchange was not one way however. Goryeo had significant cultural influence on the Mongol court of Yuan Dynasty, the most visible of which was adoption of women's hanbok by the aristocrats, queens and concubines of the Mongol court.^[36][37][38]

• 

  A Goguryeo man in a hunting attire from Goguryeo tombs.

• 

  Goguryeo king and queen's attire.

• 

  Silla king and queen's attire.

• 

  A woman's attire during Goryeo dynasty.

Joseon dynasty[link]

The early Joseon dynasty appeared to continue the women's fashion for baggy, loose clothing, such as those seen on the mural from the tomb of Bak Ik (1332–1398).^[39] However, by the 16th century, the jeogori had shortened to the waist, and appears to have become closer fitting, although not to the extremes of the bell-shaped silhouette of the 18th and 19th centuries.^[40][41][42]

Today's hanbok is the direct descendant of hanbok as worn in the Joseon dynasty period, specifically the late 19th century. Hanbok had gone through various changes and "fashion fads" during the five hundred years under the reigns of Joseon kings and eventually evolved to what we now mostly relate to as a typical hanbok.

Everyday wear[link]

During the Joseon Dynasty, the chima or skirt adopted fuller volumn while the jeogori or blouse took more tightened and shortened form, which are features quite distinct from the hanbok of previous centuries, when chima was rather slim and jeogori baggy and long, reaching well below the waist level. After the Imjin War economic hardship on the peninsula may have influenced the closer-fitting styles that would use less fabric.^[42] However, this explanation doesn't take into account the ever expanding voluminous size of the dress which must have increased the use of fabric despite the disastrous effects of the war.

In the eighteenth century, the short lenghth of jeogori reached extremity as to scarcely cover the breasts. Therefore women of respectable social backgrounds began to wear a piece of long cloth called heoritti around the breast. Heoritti was originally worn as an undergarment beneath the jeogori, but was now worn as an outwear. The common and lowborn classes, however, often eschewed the heoritti altogether, as a way of indicating that they had given birth to a son.^[43] This also may have assisted with breastfeeding.

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the fullness of the skirt was concentratrated around the hips, thus forming a silhouette similar to Western bustles. The fullness of the skirt reached its extreme around 1800. During the nineteenth century fullness of the skirt was achieved around the knees and ankles thus giving chima a triangular or an A-shaped silhouette, which is still the preferred style to this day. Many undergarments such as darisokgot, soksokgot, dansokgot, and gojengi were worn underneath to achieve desired forms.

A clothes reformation movement, which aimed to lengthen jeogori, experienced quite a success in the early twentieth century and has continued to influence the shaping of modern hanbok. Modern jeogori are longer, although still halfway between the waistline and the breasts. Heoritti are sometimes exposed for aesthetic reasons. At the end of nineteenth century, Daewon-gun introduced Magoja, a Manchu-style jacket, to Korea, which is often worn over jeogori to this day.

• 

  Women's hanbok consists of chima skirt and jeogori shirt.

• 

  Full skirt and tight jeogori were considered fashionable. 18th century.

• Yangban.jpg

  A rare painting of yangban women. Yangban ladies were sensitive to "fashion fads" which worried Seonbi scholars. 18th century.

• 18thcentury innerwear.jpg

  Soksokgot, similar to petticoat is shown under the woman's skirt. 18th century.

Male aristocrat dress; a gat (a horsehair hat) on the head and yellow dopo (an overcoat).

Men's hanbok saw little change compared to women's hanbok. The form and design of jeogori and baji hardly changed.

However, men's lengthy outwear, equivalent of modern overcoat went through quite a dramatic change. Before the late 19th century, yangban men almost always wore jungchimak when going abroad. Jungchimak had very lengthy sleeves and its lower part had splits on both sides and occasionally on the back so as to create fluttering effect when walking. To some this was considered fashionable, and to some, namely stoic scholars, it was nothing but pure vanity. Daewon-gun successfully banned jungchimak as a part of his clothes reformation program and jungchimak eventually disappeared.

Durumagi, which was previously worn underneath jungchimak and basically a house dress substituted jungchimak as the formal outwear for yangban men. Durumagi differs from its predecessor in that it has tighter sleeves and does not have splits on either sides and the back. It is also slightly shorter in length. Men's hanbok has remained relatively the same since the adoption of durumagi.

• 

  A man wearing jungchimak. 18th century.

• Malehanbok002.JPG

  The "fluttering" effect. 18th century.

• 

  Waryonggwan and hakchangui in 1863.

• 

  Photograph taken in 1863

• 

  Photograph taken in 1863

• 

  Bokgeon and simui in 1880.

• 

  Black bokgeon and blue dopo in 1880.

• 

  Jeongjagwan on the head.

Hanbok for formal occasions[link]

• 

  Gonryongpo (or ikseongwanpo): business attire for king

• 

  Hongryongpo: everyday clothes for king

• 

  Hwangryongpo: everyday clothes for emperor. Gojong began to wear the clothes.

• 

  Tongcheongwan and Gangsapo

• Cheoljong crop.JPG

  Gugunbok: military uniform for king

• 

  Hwangwonsam: everyday clothes for queen/empress

Heuk dallyeongpo in the late 18th century

Gwanbok is a Korean term which refers to all formal attires of government officials. It began to be worn since Silla period until Joseon Dynasty. During the Silla period, the official robe systems of Central Asia was imported and put into practice.^[10] There were several types of gwanbok which differs in color and design according to the wearer's status, rank, and occasion such as jobok, jebok, sangbok, gongbok, yungbok, and gunbok.

Jobok was the gwanbok worn for special occasions such as national festivals, or announcement of royal decrees. Jebok was the gwanbok worn while an ancestor veneration ritual called jesa was held. Sangbok was worn as a daily official clothing while gongbok was worn when officers had an audience with the king at the palace. Yungbok was related to military affairs.

However, as the term in a narrow scope only denote the gongbok and sangbok, it means dallyeong, robe with a round collar.^[44][45]

Material and Color[link]

The upper classes wore hanbok of closely woven ramie cloth or other high-grade lightweight materials in warm weather and of plain and patterned silks the rest of the year. Commoners were restricted by law as well as resources to cotton at best.

The upper classes wore a variety of colors, though bright colors were generally worn by children and girls and subdued colors by middle-aged men and women. Commoners were restricted by law to everyday clothes of white, but for special occasions they wore dull shades of pale pink, light green, gray, and charcoal. The color of chima showed the wearer's social position and statement. For example, a navy color indicated that a woman had son(s). Only the royal family could wear clothing with geumbak-printed patterns (gold leaf) on the bottom of chima.

Head dresses[link]

A woman wearing a wig, or gache.

Both male and female wore their hair in a long braid until they were married, at which time the hair was knotted; man's hair was knotted in a topknot called sangtu (상투) on the top of the head and the woman’s hair was rolled into a ball shaped form and was set just above the nape of the neck.

A long pin, or binyeo (비녀), was thrust through the knotted hair of the woman as both a fastener and a decoration. The material and length of the binyeo varied according to the wearer’s class and status. Women wore a jokduri on their wedding day, and wore an ayam for protection from the cold. Men wore a gat, which varied according to class and status.

Before 19th century women of high social backgrounds and gisaeng wore wigs (gache). Like their Western counterparts, Koreans considered bigger and heavier wigs to be more desirable and aesthetic. Such was the women's frenzy for the gache that in 1788 King Jeongjo prohibited and banned, by royal decree, the use of gache, as they were deemed contrary to Korean Confucian values of reserve and restraint^[46]

In the 19th century yangban women began to wear jokduri, a small hat that substituted gache. However gache enjoyed vast popularity in gisaeng circles well into the end of the century.

Foreign influence[link]

Some foreign-styled clothing was adopted by the upper class, but its use was always separate from the tradition of hanbok, and was eventually replaced by Western influences. With increasing cultural ties between Korea and China since the latter half of the Three Kingdoms period, the aristocratic class and rulers started adopting traditional style of Chinese clothes very different from Hanbok. Unlike the aristocrats, the majority of commoners continued to use Hanbok, and many aristocrats also continued to use Hanbok for less formal occasions or at the comfort of their homes.^[4]

As Silla unified the Three Kingdoms of Korea, various foreign cultures and systems were imported from Tang China. In the process, the latest fashion trend of Luoyang, the capital of Tang, were also introduced to Korea. This fashion was similar to the Western empire style but differed from the Korean style in that women wore a skirt over a jacket to make the body slim. After the unification, Korean women started wearing the new style, which was popular not only in China but also in countries influenced by the Silk Road exchange. The style was, however, discontinued during the Goryeo dynasty, the next ruling state of Korea.^[10][11] Dallyeong, a style of clothing from nomadic cultures of Western Asia, was introduced via Tang China and was adopted as the official robe system, Gwanbok, in the 4th century until the 17th century.^[47]

Beginning in the late 19th century, use of hanbok was entirely replaced by new Western imports such as the Western suit and dress. Today, formal and casual wears are usually based on Western styles, while Hanbok is still used for traditional purposes.

See also[link]

• Chima jeogori
• Dol janchi
• Gache
• Gat (clothing)
• List of Korea-related topics
• List of Korean clothing

Footnotes[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hanbok

• History of Hanbok (Korean)
• Information about Hanbok (Korean)
• Traditional Korean Clothing - Life in Korea
• Official Korea Tourism Organizationg- Hanbok Clothing

Kim Yuna 김연아 金姸兒
Kim Yuna at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Yuna Kim
Alternative names	Kim Yuna
Born	(1990-09-05) September 5, 1990 (age 21) Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Residence	Seoul, South Korea
Height	1.64 m (5 ft 4 1⁄2 in)
Coach	Peter Oppegard
Former coach	Brian Orser Seyeol Kim Hyeonjeong Ji Hyesuk Shin Jonghyeon Ryu
Choreographer	David Wilson
Former choreographer	Sandra Bezic Tom Dickson Jeffrey Buttle Seyeol Kim Catarina Lindgren Hyeonjeong Ji
Began skating	1996
World standing	48 (As of 29 April 2012 (2012 -04-29)[update])[1]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	228.56 (WR) 2010 Winter Olympics
Short program	78.50 (WR) 2010 Winter Olympics
Free skate	150.06 (WR) 2010 Winter Olympics
Medal record Competitor for  South Korea Ladies' Figure skating Olympic Games Gold 2010 Vancouver Singles World Championships Gold 2009 Los Angeles Singles Silver 2010 Turin Singles Silver 2011 Moscow Singles Bronze 2007 Tokyo Singles Bronze 2008 Gothenburg Singles Four Continents Championships Gold 2009 Vancouver Singles Grand Prix Final Gold 2009–10 Tokyo Singles Silver 2008–09 Goyang Singles Gold 2007–08 Turin Singles Gold 2006–07 St. Petersburgh Singles World Junior Championships Gold 2006 Ljubljana Singles Silver 2005 Kitchener Singles Junior Grand Prix Final Gold 2005–2006 Ostrava Singles Silver 2004–2005 Helsinki Singles

This article contains Korean text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Hangul or Hanja.

Kim Yuna (Hangul: 김연아, Hanja: 金姸兒, IPA: [kimjʌna]; born September 5, 1990) is a South Korean figure skater.

She is the 2010 Olympic champion in Ladies' Singles, the 2009 World champion, the 2009 Four Continents champion, a three-time (2006–2007, 2007–2008, 2009–2010) Grand Prix Final champion, the 2006 World Junior champion, the 2005–2006 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a four-time (2002–2005) South Korean national champion.

Kim is the first South Korean figure skater to win a medal at an ISU Junior or Senior Grand Prix event, ISU Championship, and the Olympic Games. She is the first female skater to win the Olympic Games, the World Championships, the Four Continents Championships and the Grand Prix Final. She is one of the most highly recognized athletes and media figures in South Korea.^[3]

She is the current record holder for ladies in the short program,^[4] the free skating^[5] and the combined total^[6] under the ISU Judging System. She is also the first female skater to surpass the 150-point free skating mark^[5] and the 200-point total mark^[6] under the ISU Judging System. She has never been placed off the podium in her entire career.^[7]

Personal life[link]

Kim was born in 1990 in Bucheon, Gyeonggi and moved to Gunpo when she was six years old. She trained initially in South Korea before spending four years training in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She currently trains in Seoul and Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

In 2008, Kim was baptized as a Catholic alongside her mother, taking the saint's name Stella.^[8] In 2009, Kim enrolled at Korea University as a Physical Education major.^[9]

The correct transliteration of her name from Korean would be 'Kim Yeona'.^[10] However, when she applied for her passport, she intended to write her name as 'Yun-a', but the official mis-wrote her name as 'Yu-na'. In Hangul, 'Yun-a' would properly be spelled "연아" and not "유나."^[11] From the 2010–2011 season, her name was registered as 'Yuna Kim' at ISU profile.^[12]

Career[link]

Early career[link]

Kim began skating at the age of 7. Her coach at the time, Jong-Hyeon Ryu, strongly suggested to Kim's mother that Kim should continue to skate, predicting that she would become a world-class figure skater in the future.^[13] In a 2011 interview, she gave credit to her coaches for noticing her aptness for skating, "My coaches have told me my muscles and body structure are perfect for skating. I was born with a good instrument, maybe more so than the talent. I was lucky my coaches noticed early on and helped me develop that. A lot of people don't know they are born that way."^[14]

In 2002, Kim competed internationally for the first time at the Triglav Trophy, where she won the gold medal in the novice competition. A year later, at age 12, she won the senior title at the South Korean Championships, becoming the youngest skater ever to win that title. She won her second international competition at the Golden Bear of Zagreb, a novice competition. She continued her reign as the South Korean champion in 2004.

Junior career[link]

2004–2005 season[link]

In the 2004–2005 season, Kim competed as a junior at the ISU Junior Grand Prix. She won a silver medal at the event in China and a gold medal at the event in Hungary. She won a silver medal at the 2004–2005 Junior Grand Prix Final with an overall score of 137.75 points.

She retained her National Championship title for the third year in a row on her way to the 2005 World Junior Championships. At that competition, she won a silver medal earning 158.93 points and landed her first triple-triple combination jump in the free skating.

2005–2006 season[link]

For the 2005–2006 season, Kim was not old enough to compete at the 2006 Olympics, even if South Korea earned a spot at the final qualifying competition, the 2005 Karl Schäfer Memorial.

Instead, she competed in the 2005–2006 Junior Grand Prix and won both of her competitions in Bulgaria and Slovakia. At the 2005–2006 Junior Grand Prix Final, she won the competition 28.34 points ahead of silver medalist Aki Sawada. During her free skate, she landed seven triple jumps, including a triple flip – triple toe loop combination and a double axel – triple toe loop combination.

Kim won her fourth senior national title. At the 2006 World Junior Championships, she won the gold medal scoring 177.54 points overall, with a 24.19-point margin of victory over silver medalist Mao Asada.

Senior career[link]

2006–2007 season[link]

Kim performing her free skate to The Lark Ascending at the 2006 Skate Canada.

In order to prepare for her senior debut in the 2006–2007 season, Kim trained extensively at the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club of Toronto, Ontario, Canada during the summer of 2006.

Kim made her senior international debut at 2006 Skate Canada where she won a bronze medal after being placed first at the short program and fourth in the free skate program with a total overall score of 168.48 points.

At the 2006 Trophée Eric Bompard, Kim received a score of 65.22 in the short program and 119.32 in the free skate, placing first both of them and won the event with 184.54 points, 10.10 points ahead of silver medalist Miki Ando. Those performances qualified Kim for the Grand Prix Final for the first time.

At the 2006 Grand Prix Final in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Kim placed third in the short program with 65.06 points and first in the free skating with 119.14. She won the Grand Prix Final earning 184.20 points, by a margin of 11.68 ahead over silver medalist Mao Asada.

Kim was forced to withdraw due to an injury at the 2007 South Korean Championships and was unable to defend her national title. In January 2007, Kim was diagnosed as being in the early stage of lumbar disc herniation (L₄~L₅).^[15]

Kim was selected to compete at the 2007 World Championships based on her performance during the season. Because of the placement of Choi Ji Eun the year before, South Korea had only one spot in the World Championships. During the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kim won the short program with 71.95 points, setting the highest short program score ever under the ISU Judging System and consequently, a world record.^[16] She placed fourth in the long program earning 114.19 points, and finished third overall with 186.14 points behind Japanese skaters Miki Ando and Mao Asada. Kim's placement qualified South Korea two ladies entries for the 2008 World Figure Skating Championships.^[17] Kim was the only lady skater whose triple-triple combination was recognized by the judges in both the short and the free skating programs in the 2006–2007 season.

In March 2007, Brian Orser became her new full-time coach. Satisfied with the training environment in Toronto, Kim made Toronto her training home.^[3]

2007–2008 season[link]

Kim was assigned to the 2007 Cup of China and the 2007 Cup of Russia Grand Prix for the 2007–2008 ISU Grand Prix season.

Kim started off the 2007–2008 season winning the 2007 Cup of China with a total score of 180.68 points, which was 24.34 ahead of silver medalist Caroline Zhang. She landed a triple flip-single toe loop combination, a triple Lutz, a double Axel and placed 3rd in the short program. But the next day, she hit a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple loop, triple lutz-double toe loop combination, double axel-triple toe loop combination, a single lutz, a triple salchow, a double axel and three level-four spins to score 122.36 points in the free skating.

At the 2007 Cup of Russia, Kim won both the short program scoring 63.50 points and the free skate with 133.70 points, to finish first overall with 197.20 points, 24.43 ahead of silver medalist Yukari Nakano, which set a world record for the free skate score under the ISU Judging System. She executed triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple loop, a triple lutz-double toe loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz, triple salchow and double axel.^[18]

Kim qualified for the 2007–2008 Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy. She won the short program with 64.62 points and was placed second in the free skate earning 132.21. With a total score of 196.83 points, Kim won her second Grand Prix Final.

Kim did not compete at the 2008 Korean National Championships and the 2008 Four Continents Championships due to a hip injury.

With persistent hip injury and back pain, she competed at the 2008 World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. She was placed fifth in the short program with 59.85 points, but rebounded in the free skate to win the program with 123.38. She scored 183.23 points overall, winning her second consecutive bronze medal at the World Championships.

2008–2009 season[link]

Kim performing her short program to Danse Macabre at the 2009 World Championships.

Kim was assigned to the 2008 Skate America and the 2008 Cup of China Grand Prix for the 2008–2009 ISU Grand Prix season.

At the 2008 Skate America, Kim was placed first in the short program with a score of 69.50, standing out by the margin of 11.70 points despite a trouble in her double axel.^[19] She went on to capture the ladies title by winning the free skate as well with a score of 123.95. She won the event earning 193.45 points overall, a score that was more than 20 points ahead of silver medalist Yukari Nakano of Japan.

Her success continued at the 2008 Cup of China, where she received a score of 63.64 in the short program and 128.11 in the free skate, placing first in both of them. The combined total of 191.75 was nearly 21 points ahead of silver medalist Miki Ando of Japan. Her performance qualified her for a spot in the Grand Prix Final.

During the 2008–2009 Grand Prix Final, which was held in Goyang, South Korea, she was placed first in the short program with 65.94 points and second in the free skate where she earned 120.41 points. She won silver medal with a total score of 186.35 points, 2.20 behind Mao Asada of Japan.

Kim competed in the 2009 Four Continents in Vancouver, Canada. She set a new world record of 72.24 points in the short program with a clean performance.^[20] She scored 116.83 in the free skating program, keeping the lead with 189.07 points overall and winning the gold medal.

During the 2009 World Championships, held in Los Angeles, United States, she set another new world record of 76.12 points in the short program, surpassing her previous record by almost four points.^[21] She performed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz and a double axel as well as earning a level four on all her spins and her spiral sequence. She also won the free skating program, scoring 131.59 points and showing great presentation skills with her artistry and her musicality. She executed a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a double axel, a triple lutz-double toe loop-double loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple lutz and a double axel. As a result, she set a new world record total of 207.71 as well as winning her first World Championship title and she became the first female skater to surpass 200 points^[22] under the ISU Judging System. Her margin of victory was 16.42 points ahead of silver medalist Joannie Rochette. She was the only competitor who earned eights in program components marks in both the short program and the free skate at the competition.^[23][24] Kim was the only female skater whose triple-triple combination was recognized by the judges in both the short and free programs during the 2008–2009 season.^[25][26]

2009–2010 season[link]

Kim performing her short program to the 007 James Bond Medley at the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard.

Kim was assigned to the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard and the 2009 Skate America in the 2009–2010 ISU Grand Prix season.

At the 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard, she placed first in the short program with the score of 76.08 points, 16.44 points ahead of Yukari Nakano. She successfully executed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, followed by a triple flip and a double axel. Her spiral sequence and all three spins were graded a level four. Opening with a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination and showing great artistic skills, she won the free skate scoring 133.95 points. She also executed a double axel-double toe loop-double loop, a double axel-triple toe loop, a triple salchow, a triple lutz and a double axel. She won the event with 210.03 points, 36.04 ahead of silver medalist Mao Asada. Kim set world records for the free skate and the overall score under the ISU Judging System at the competition.^[27]

At the 2009 Skate America, Kim placed first again after the short program with the score of 76.28, which was 17.48 points ahead of her closest competitor Rachael Flatt. She received +2.20 grade of execution for her triple lutz-triple toe loop combination,^[28] the highest ever given for jumps by the ISU in ladies' figure skating. She placed second in the free skate with the score of 111.70 points, due to mistakes in her jumps. Although it was one of her lowest scores, she still won the event with 187.98 points, beating silver medalist Rachael Flatt with a lead of 13.07. At the competition, she set a new world record again for the short program under the ISU Judging System.^[29]

Her victories in both Grand Prix events qualified her for the 2009–2010 Grand Prix Final in Tokyo, Japan, in December 2009. At the event, she placed second in the short program with 65.64 points, 0.56 behind Miki Ando. The next day, she won the free skate with 123.22 points. As a result, Kim won her 3rd Grand Prix Final title with a total of 188.86 points.

In February 2010, Kim competed in the ladies event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, where she captured Olympic gold.

In March 2010, Kim competed at the 2010 World Championships in Turin, Italy. Kim said she had struggled with finding the motivation to compete at the World Championships after winning the gold medal at the Olympic Games.^[30] Kim placed seventh in the short program with 60.30 points. She opened with a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, but had problems with her layback spin and spiral sequence. She rebounded in the free skate to win the program with 130.49 points completing a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple flip, a double axel-double toe loop-double loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination and a triple lutz, but having trouble with her triple salchow and double axel. She won the silver medal totalling 190.79 points.

2010 Winter Olympics[link]

Kim at the 2010 Winter Olympics medal ceremony

In February 2010, Kim competed in the ladies event at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She entered the Games as a strong favorite to win the gold.^[31]

In the short program on February 23, she executed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple flip and a double axel. Her spirals and her spins were graded a level four. Her technical score of 44.70 points was the highest of the event. She also received superior scores in the program components, where she received 33.80 due to her interpretative artistic skills. As a result Kim scored 78.50 points, taking the lead by 4.72 over Mao Asada of Japan and achieving her best score in the short program. She set a new world record.^[32]

On February 25, she won the free skate with a score of 150.06 points, 18.34 ahead of Asada, who also came in second place in that segment of the competition. Kim landed a triple lutz-triple toe loop combination, a triple flip, a double axel-double toe loop-double loop combination, a double axel-triple toe loop combination, a triple salchow, a triple lutz and a double axel as well as receiving level fours for her spins and her spiral sequence. Combined with her grace and musical expression, both her technical score of 78.30 and her presentation of 71.76 were the highest of the night. She was the only competitor to earn nines in her program components scores.^[33] She set a new world record for the free skate under the ISU Judging System.^[34] Overall, Kim totaled 228.56 points, shattering her personal best and own old world record by a margin of 18 points.^[34] She won the gold medal, becoming the first South Korean skater to medal in any discipline of figure skating at the Olympic Games. Kim's gold medal was South Korea's first medal at the Winter Olympics in a sport other than speed skating or short track.^[35]

Kim's short program, long program and combined total scores in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver were the highest scores ever since the ISU Judging System was created, and were automatically registered in the Guinness World Records.^[36] After the 2010 Winter Olympics, personalities such as Jacques Rogge ^[37] and Hillary Clinton^[38] praised Kim's Olympic performance.

2010–2011 season[link]

Kim was assigned to the 2010 Cup of China and to the 2010 Cup of Russia for the 2010–2011 ISU Grand Prix season. However, she chose not to compete in the Grand Prix series to focus on the 2011 World Championships.^[39] She won the silver medal at the event after being placed first in the short program and second in the free skating with a total score of 194.50 points, 1.29 points behind Miki Ando. She said she might miss the next Grand Prix series due to her work promoting South Korea's successful bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics.^[40] In May 2011, Kim told Around the Rings that bringing the Winter Olympics to PyeongChang would be an inspiration to young athletes in Korea.^[41]

Coaching change[link]

In August 2010, Kim and her coach of four years, Brian Orser, parted ways. Their split was first made known to the public by Orser's press release.^[42] Orser's dismissal was reported as "sudden and unexpected" and no explanation was given for the split.^[42] Orser made the separation public because he did not want it to become a distraction for his other skaters, including Americans Adam Rippon and Christina Gao.^[43] Rippon said in an interview that they had known about the situation longer than the general public, and had had time to deal with it, noting that "it hasn't affected Brian's coaching, and it certainly hasn't affected my training."^[44] Kim posted an online message accusing Orser of lying.^[45] She stated on her official website that they had been maintaining an awkward and ambiguous relationship for months and that she was perplexed by Orser's announcement. She also said that the dismissal had been her decision and that the reason behind it did not need to be made public.^[46][47] After the split, Orser gave several interviews regarding his dismissal.^[48][49] On August 25, 2010, Orser caused controversy by revealing Kim's 2010–2011 competitive program information to the press without Kim and her choreographer's consent.^[50][51][52] Soon after, Kim left the rink where she had trained with Orser to train at the East West Ice Palace in Los Angeles owned by Michelle Kwan and Kwan's family.^[53]

On October 5, 2010, Peter Oppegard was announced as Kim's coach.^[54]

2011–2012 season[link]

On October 18, 2011 Kim stated that she will sit out the entire 2011–2012 season.^[55]

Skating technique[link]

Kim performs a bent-layover spin during practice at the 2008-2009 Grand Prix Final.

Kim landed her first triple jump at the age of 10, and at 12, she used five triple jumps in her figure skating programs.^[56] When she was 14 years old, she landed her first triple-triple combination jump at the 2005 World Junior Championships.^[57]

Kim has executed three different triple-triple combination jumps in competitions: a triple lutz-triple toe loop,^[58] a triple flip-triple toe loop,^[59] and a triple toe loop-triple toe loop.^[60] She can also execute a triple lutz-double toe loop-double loop jump combination.^[61] She has received +2.20 grade of execution for jumps,^[28] and she has also received +2.00 grade of execution for her spiral sequence,^[62] steps sequence^[63] and spins.^[63]

One of Kim's most famous moves is the bent-leg layover camel spin. She has performed the spin position since 2004. Although she did not invent the move, it is now frequently called the "Yuna spin" or "Yuna camel".^[64][65][66]

Another signature move of hers is a layback ina bauer that she leads directly into a double axel jump, to a double axel-triple toe loop jump combination or to a double axel-double toe loop-double loop jump combination.

Kim is famous for her strong technical skills, mature artistry, elegance and for the great ice coverage of her jumps due to her high speed take-off. Her triple lutz-triple toe loop combination jump is known for its huge scale.^[67][68][69]

TV show[link]

In May 2011, Kim began to host a show called “Kim Yu-na’s Kiss and Cry”. The program portrayed the challenging process of ten popular entertainers as they learned how to figure skate from professional skaters. The ten stars included comedian Kim Byung-man, singer U-Know of TVXQ, Krystal of f(x), IU, Son Dam-bi, actors Park Jun-geum, Seo Ji-suk, Lee Ah-hyun, Jin Ji-hee and speed skater Lee Kyu-hyuk.^[70]

The winner of the show was Krystal of f(x) and her partner Lee Dong Hoon. The runner up was comedian Kim Byung-man and his partner Lee Soo Kyung. As a reward, Krystal and Lee Dong Hoon got to showcase their skating with Kim Yuna in the All That Skate exhibition that was held in August 2011.

The show aired on SBS.

Public life and endorsements[link]

Kim performs her exhibition to Méditation at the 2010 All That Skate LA.

Among Kim's official sponsors are Kookmin Bank, Nike, Korean Air and Hyundai Motor Company. Her other endorsements include Anycall (mobile phone), Hauzen (air conditioner), Lac Vert (cosmetics), Maeil Dairies Co. Ltd (dairy products), Saffron (fabric softener), Tous Les Jours (bakery), J. Estina (jewelry) and Qua (apparel).^[71] Her skating music and other favorites were compiled in the album Yuna Kim ~ Fairy On ICE ~ Skating Music (Universal Music Korea, 2008).^[72]

Kim was the headliner of the ice show 2008, 2009 and 2010 Festa on Ice produced by her former agency, IB Sports. IB Sports produced another ice show, Ice All Stars 2009, which took place in Seoul on August 14–16, 2009. Michelle Kwan, who is Kim's idol and one of the most decorated figure skater in U.S. history, joined the ice show.^[73]

In April 2010, Kim left IB Sports and set up her own agency called All That Sports Corp. (AT Sports) with the support of her mother.^[74] They organized an ice show, All That Skate.^[75]

Kim has appeared in many commercials in South Korea. Her commercial for a new touchscreen haptic phone from Samsung Electronics, dubbed as Yuna's Haptic (SPH-W7700), sold over one million devices in a record seven months.^[76][77][78] The "Yuna's Haptic" cell phone, released in May 2009 sold over 550 thousand devices in the first 80 days of sales. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Forbes magazine named Kim, along with American snowboarder Shaun White, as the top-earning athletes participating in the Olympics with $7.5 million each to their name.^[79] In August 2010, Forbes magazine listed her as one of the highest-paid female athletes in the world, with annual earnings of $9.7 million.^[80][81]

Kim has worked in several projects as a singer. She recorded a duet with K-pop singer Lee Seung-gi to collaborate on "Smile Boy", the 2010 Football World Cup commercial song.^[82][83][84] She also sang with Korean band Big Bang on the single "Shouts of Reds" created for the Korean World Cup soccer team. Kim has also performed songs by Korean pop singers Taeyeon from Girls' Generation, IU, Narsha and BoA on the television show Kim Jung Eun's Chocolate.^[85]

Kim at the 2010 Time 100 Gala

Kim was named as an ambassador for the 2010–2012 Visit Korea Year.^[86] Kim has been rated as one of the world's most influential people in 2010 by TIME. In July 2010, Kim was named international UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.^[87] She was also named an ambassador for the 2010 G-20 Seoul summit alongside actress Han Hyo Joo and soccer player representative Park Ji-Sung.^[88]

In August 2010, in honor of Kim's visit, the city of Los Angeles designated August 7 as "Yu-Na Kim Day" and granted her honorary citizenship. She also received the "Proud Korean Award" from the Korean American Leadership Foundation in the city on the same day as Sammy Lee, the two-time Olympic gold medalist in men's diving in 1948 and 1952.^[89][90][91]

In September 2010, Kim was invited to the United Nation's New York headquarter to mark the annual International Day of Peace celebration in capacity of UNICEF International Goodwill Ambassador.^[92] She joined the ceremony alongside high level UN officials including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon and Goodwill Ambassadors representing other branches of the United Nations. There, she advocated peace messages from UNICEF.^[93]

In October 2010, Kim and her management All That Sports debuted 2010 All That Skate LA, a US version of their highly successful Korean ice show brand, All That Skate, at Staples Center, Los Angeles. The show, which was directed by renowned Canadian choreographer David Wilson and boasted an impressive all-star cast, including the five-time world champion Michelle Kwan, the reigning Olympic champions from three skating disciplines including Kim, and many world champions, received rave reviews from both figure skating fans and critics for bringing a new style of skating show to the US and also for its overall high quality production.^[94][95][96]

Kim won the Sportswoman of the Year Award from Women's Sports Foundation on October 12, 2010.^[97]

On January 28, 2010, Kim published her book, Kim Yu-na's Seven-Minute Drama, about her experience with figure skating since the age of seven to the preparation of 2010 Winter Olympic in Vancouver. The Chosun Ilbo stated that the book "deals with her attempts to overcome her obstacles and to become the world's top figure skater."^{[98][99][100]} In addition to this book, she also wrote a book called Like Kim Yuna, published on March 30, 2010. This book targets younger readers.^[101]

Kim played a key role in South Korea's effort to win the rights to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. Kim was part of the Olympic Bidding Committee for PyeongChang, the Korean hosting city. The Korean committee members including Kim traveled to Durban, South Africa, where International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s decision for the hosting city was finalized on July 6, 2011. There, she fulfilled her role as Korean delegation by promoting PyeongChang as an athlete ambassador and an Olympic champion.^[102][103] Kim was one of the eight Korean delegates who appeared before the July 6th IOC conference and delivered a presentation for Pyeongchang, which won the hosting rights over other rival cities, Munich of Germany and Annecy of France.^[104][105] In October 2011, Kim was appointed a member of the Executive Committee of the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Organising Committee.

In January 2012, IB Sports agreed to pay her 800 million won ($698,000) in arrears.^[81]

Donations[link]

Kim donated more than 2.0 billion won ($1.7 million) as of Oct, 2009^[106] and is continuing her effort in many ways. Her charitable contributions known to public include:

• Every Year since Jan 2007 – 12 million won scholarships to 6 young skaters after her first advertisement endorsement of Kookmin Bank.^[107]
• May 2007 – 10 million won scholarship to fellow skater Hyeon-Jung Kim after making a contract with LG Household & Health Care advertisement.^[108]
• September 2007 – 200 million won (100 million of her own + 100 million won additional contributions from Ivy Club) in form of school uniforms to low-income-family youths after making a contract with Ivy Club advertisement.^[109]
• December 2007 – 100 school uniforms (worth 20 million won) to youths damaged by Taean oil spill disaster.^[110]
• April 2008 – Visited Everland with 800 children from Seoul Boys Town on Kookmin Bank Volunteer Day.^[111]
• May 2008 – 50 million won (in addition to contributions from Daishin Securities) to young skaters after giving a talk to public at Daishin Investment Forum 2008.^[112]
• May 2008 – 40 million won worth of one-year provision of Maeil Dairies Company products to low-income-family youths.^[113]
• May 2008 – Participated in the recording of a humanitarian song "I Love Asia" Project to help earthquake victims of Sichuan, China.^[114]
• December 2008 – 100 million won worth of school uniforms to low-income-family youths after renewing her advertisement contract with Ivy Club.^[115]
• December 2008 – Over 1,000 dolls, she received at Grand Prix Final, to juvenile cancer wards in hospitals in metropolitan Seoul area.^[116]
• December 2008 – 50 million won to young skaters at "Little Yuna' Youth skaters support project" Campaign of Sports Toto Lottery Company.^[117]
• December 2008 – 144 million won, total amount of ticket earnings from the charity ice show "Angels on Ice 2008" to children with rare diseases and juvenile cancer patients.^[118]
• April 2009 – 100 million won worth of dairy products to low-income-family youths through the Seongname Welfare Center of World Vision.^[119]
• May 2009 – 100 million won and skate boots while participating in UNICEF Pigotta Doll Project to help children with immunization campaign.^[120]
• December 2009 – Her portrait rights for free to be included in the Christmas seals for tuberculosis eradication.^[121]
• January 2010 – 100 million won through UNICEF to Haiti relief.^[122][123]
• April 2010 – 50 million won, some part of earnings from Festa on Ice 2010, to ROKS Cheonan (PCC-772) victims who passed away in the ship.^[124]
• July 2010 – As a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, she thanked Haiti donors.^[125]
• August 2010 – $10,000 to UNICEF. It was the prize money awarded to Kim with her Proud Korean Award by the Korean-American Leadership Foundation in Los Angeles.^[126]
• December 2010 – $45,000 to children of families without parents through the Korean Committee for UNICEF.^[127]
• May 2011 – $27,000, her prize money from the 2011 world championships to help victims of the quake-tsunami disaster in Japan^[128]
• Dec 2011 – 10 million won to Yeon-Su Social Welfare Center of children's foundation to help children of multicultural families.^[129]
• Jan 2012 – 73 million won, proceeds from duet song "Ice flowers" song by Yu-Na Kim & I.U., to members of national figure skating team.^[130]
• Feb 2012 – 50 million won to 5 children of families without parents through the Korean Committee for UNICEF.^[131]

Programs[link]

Kim performing her layback spin during her exhibition to Méditation at the 2010 World Championships.

Kim performs a Y spiral in her exhibition to Only Hope at the 2008 Skate America.

Kim performs her signature layback ina bauer during her Reflection gala at the 2006 Skate Canada.

Competitive results[link]

Senior results[link]

Kim (center) on the 2010 Winter Olympics podium.

Junior and novice results[link]

• S = Senior level
• N = Novice level
• J = Junior level

Detailed results[link]

Senior results[link]

Kim at the 2010 Winter Olympics medal ceremony.

Kim with her gold medal at the 2009 World Championships.

• SP = Short program; FS = Free skating
• World records highlighted in bold
• Season bests highlighted in Italic

Junior results[link]

• ISU season bests highlighted in Italic.
• QR = Qualifying round; SP = Short program; FS = Free skating

References[link]