ENHYPEN member Sunghoon has been selected as a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, marking a rare crossover between K-pop and the Olympic movement.
The Winter Games are set to open Feb. 6, 2026 (local time), with Sunghoon participating in the official torch relay following an invitation from Samsung Electronics, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner.
Sunghoon’s selection carries added significance due to his athletic background. Before debuting with ENHYPEN, he trained as a competitive figure skater and was part of South Korea’s national reserve team. Since 2025, he has also served as a promotional ambassador for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, helping bridge elite sport and pop culture.
Bringing together his history in winter sports and his global reach as an artist, Sunghoon will carry the Olympic flame as a symbol of unity, peace and international connection. He becomes just the second K-pop artist to participate in an overseas Olympic torch relay, highlighting the genre’s growing cultural footprint on the world stage.
Reflecting on the moment, Sunghoon said: “I know how much passion and effort national athletes have put into preparing for the Winter Olympics, and I sincerely want to support and cheer for them. Competing in the Olympics was once my dream as an athlete, so being connected to that dream now as a singer is truly meaningful and an incredible honor.”
ENHYPEN will also be represented at the Games through music. The group’s track “SHOUT OUT,” from their 2022 mini-album MANIFESTO : DAY 1, has been selected as Team Korea’s official cheer song for the Milano Cortina Games.
The announcement arrives amid a strong commercial run for ENHYPEN. The group’s seventh mini-album THE SIN : VANISH debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, earning 122,400 equivalent album units in its first week. The release marked ENHYPEN’s fifth consecutive Top 5 entry, further cementing their status as one of K-pop’s most consistent global performers.
