From Figure Skating Star to Musical Stage: Lee Joon-hyung's New Act

Lee Joon-hyung, once a celebrated name in South Korean figure skating, has found a new stage as a musical actor, performing under the stage name Lee Jun-woo. His figure skating career was marked by historic achievements, including winning a bronze medal at the 2011 Junior Grand Prix in Italy, the first for a Korean male single skater. He later made history again by clinching a gold medal at the 2014 Junior Grand Prix in France. Lee also secured a spot in the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, earning the ticket 16 years after the last Korean male skater achieved this feat.

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It's cruel and harsh, but that's why we have selection trials. It's right for the best athlete to go to the Olympics.

However, his Olympic dream was shattered during the national team selection trials. Despite a significant lead, immense pressure led to a disastrous performance in the final trial, allowing Cha Jun-hwan to take the Olympic spot. Lee described the experience as "cruel and harsh" but acknowledged that the Olympics should go to the best-performing athlete. He found solace in skating alone on the empty ice, shedding tears, but felt no regret as he had given his best.

Lee's journey into figure skating began at age seven, influenced by his mother, a figure skating coach. He dedicated himself to the sport, adhering to a strict diet of chicken breast, mixed grains, and vegetables for two years during his growth spurt. He trained at various rinks, often waking early to practice. His love for figure skating was so profound that he aimed for the 2022 Beijing Olympics after missing Pyeongchang. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, disrupted his training, with rinks closing and mandatory mask-wearing making breathing difficult during intense routines.

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I can't say I wasn't disappointed. But I did my best, so I have no regrets.

During this challenging period, musical theater emerged as a salvation. Lee had long been interested in performances, and his experience using the musical "The Phantom of the Opera" as his free skating theme music in the 2014-2015 season deeply moved him. After seeing a performance of the musical, he was inspired to pursue acting. He decided to become a musical actor after attending a performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in Korea the following year. Though he never formally studied singing, his passion led him to practice frequently, revealing a natural talent.

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I originally loved watching performances. But after watching 'The Phantom of the Opera,' which I used as my theme song, I was deeply moved.

In 2021, Lee debuted in the original musical "La Révolution" and has since appeared in 14 productions, primarily original musicals. He is currently performing as Smerdyakov in "The Brothers Karamazov" in Daehangno, Seoul. Lee expresses immense gratitude and happiness for pursuing his passion, stating that it's rare to do what you love. He finds joy and fulfillment in his current career, which began almost immediately after his skating career ended, allowing him to step onto the musical stage he had long dreamed of. He appreciates the collaborative nature of musical theater, contrasting it with the solitary pressure of figure skating, where he sometimes experienced auditory hallucinations due to performance anxiety. While both disciplines demand physical stamina, Lee finds the emotional intensity of figure skating more taxing than performing in musicals, where he has fellow performers to rely on. He also notes that while figure skating competitions are limited, musical roles offer more frequent performance opportunities.

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I decided I would definitely stand on stage as a musical actor someday.