[Dispatch=Yuha] Kim Geon-woo, a former national short track speed skating representative, has passed away. He was 28 years old.

Kim Geon-woo's side announced on the 23rd through the deceased's SNS, "We respectfully inform you that Kim Geon-woo passed away on this day. We ask for your understanding that we were unable to contact everyone individually due to the sudden tragic news."

The exact cause of death has not been revealed. Kim Geon-woo's side added, "We would be grateful if you could offer warm condolences and prayers for the deceased on his final journey."

Kim Geon-woo announced his retirement from active competition on June 22. At the time, he posted on SNS, "I am putting down short track speed skating, which was my entire life. I will cheer on short track speed skating going forward," offering his final farewell.

Kim Geon-woo was a representative athlete of Korean men's short track speed skating. He was selected as a national representative in 2015. In the 2018–2019 season International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup, he ranked first in the men's 1,500m and second overall.

He also competed in the 2023–2024 season after returning following a long absence. He won gold in the men's 1,000m at the first World Cup event. He also topped the men's 1,500m at the second and third events. He won three consecutive individual event gold medals across three competitions.

He also represented Korea at the 2025 Harbin Winter Asian Games held last year. Kim Geon-woo competed in the mixed 2,000m relay preliminaries and contributed to Korea's advancement to the final. The national team won gold in the final.

<Photo source=SNS>