Gold medalist Kim Yuna's figure skateschosen as S. Korea's national cultural asset

By Park Sae-jin Posted : January 9, 2017, 14:14 Updated : January 9, 2017, 14:14

[A screenshot captured from Kim Yuna's official website]


In an exceptional rule-breaking case, the skates that helped former Olympic figure skating champion Kim Yuna win an Olympic gold medal in 2010 will be preserved forever as South Korea's cultural asset.

Traditionally and legally, South Korea registers historically valuable items as cultural properties for permanent preservation, only if more than 50 years have passed since they were created or developed.

The Cultural Heritage Administration, a state body, said Monday it would revise rules to add "young" items such as Kim's skates to the list of cultural assets.

Kim won South Korea's first gold medal in figure staking at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, recording the highest ever scores in a short program, long program and combined total.

The 26-year-old was South Korea's most popular sporting figure until her retirement and single-handedly made the sport popular back home.

Kim, selected by the Korean Olympic Committee as the "sports hero" of 2016, entered the sports Hall of Fame for contributing to sports development and boosting South Korea's national prestige. She now serves as an honorary ambassador for the 2018 Winter Olympics in the eastern ski resort of Pyeongchang. 

 
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