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.
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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.
