Career Timeline of Cha Jun-hwan: Major Achievements and Milestones

How Cha Jun-hwan built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Cha Jun-hwan is a prominent South Korean figure skater renowned for his achievements on the international stage. He secured a silver medal at the 2023 World Championships and has medaled four times at the Four Continents Championships. Cha also earned a bronze at the 2018-2019 Grand Prix Final and boasts six Grand Prix medals. Additionally, he is a five-time ISU Challenger Series medalist and the 2025 Asian Winter Games champion, as well as a 2025 World University Games bronze medalist. Domestically, he has achieved remarkable success, winning ten consecutive South Korean national titles from 2017 to 2026. Cha represented South Korea in both the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. In his junior career, he claimed a bronze medal at the 2016-17 Junior Grand Prix Final and secured two Junior Grand Prix gold medals.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

2011: Fourth Place at South Korean Championships

In 2011, Cha Jun-hwan placed fourth as a junior skater at the South Korean Championships.

2012: Junior Champion at South Korean Championships

In 2012, Cha Jun-hwan won the junior level at the South Korean Championships.

2014: Earned spot on national team

In 2014, Cha Jun-hwan earned a spot on the national team for the first time after combining his scores from the 2014 Ranking Competition and the 2015 Korean Championships.

2014: Fifth Place at Korean Championships

In 2014, Cha Jun-hwan placed fifth at the senior level at the Korean Championships, marking his first senior experience at national championships.

March 2015: Began Training with Brian Orser

In March 2015, Cha Jun-hwan began training in Toronto under Brian Orser to improve his jumps, including the triple Axel and quads.

2015: Training in Canada

In 2015, Cha Jun-hwan began training in Canada, where he resided until the COVID-19 pandemic altered his training situation.

2015: Korean qualifying competition

In 2015, Cha Jun-hwan competed in the Korean qualifying competition for the Junior Grand Prix, but due to the lingering effects of an ankle fracture, he did not make the list of selected athletes. He attributed this to pushing himself to compete with an unhealed body.

2015: Won gold at Skate Canada Autumn Classic and First Senior-Level Win

In 2015, Cha Jun-hwan won gold at the Skate Canada Autumn Classic and claimed his first senior-level win with a total score of 220.40 points, setting a new national record for Korean men's singles.

2016: Second Consecutive Win and Junior Grand Prix Final Medal

In 2016, Cha Jun-hwan earned his second consecutive win at the Ranking Competition in South Korea. At the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final, he won the bronze medal, becoming the first Korean male skater to medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final.

2016: Junior Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist

In 2016, Cha Jun-hwan won the bronze medal at the Junior Grand Prix Final.

2016: Senior National Bronze Medal

In 2016, competing with an ear infection, Cha Jun-hwan won the senior national bronze medal at the South Korean Championships.

2016: Winter Youth Olympics

In February 2016, Cha represented South Korea at the Winter Youth Olympics, placing fifth overall. In the team event, his team finished sixth overall, with Cha earning a season's best in the free skate.

2016: Junior Grand Prix Debut and Gold Medals

Starting the 2016 season, Cha Jun-hwan earned two spots on the Junior Grand Prix circuit, debuting at JGP Japan and placing second in the short program. He landed a quadruple Salchow at JGP Japan, becoming the first Korean male skater to do so in an ISU international competition, and won gold. Cha then won his second gold medal at the 2016 JGP Germany, qualifying for the 2016–17 Junior Grand Prix Final.

2017: South Korean National Champion

In 2017, Cha Jun-hwan became the South Korean national champion.

2017: Senior Debut and Injury

In 2017, at age 15, Cha Jun-hwan made his senior debut and was invited to two Grand Prix events. Due to a hip injury and subsequent ankle and wrist injuries, he had to withdraw from 2017 Skate America.

2017: First National Title and World Junior Championships

In January 2017, Cha Jun-hwan won his first national title at the South Korean Championships. At the 2017 World Junior Championships, he finished fifth overall with a personal best total score.

2017: First Missed Win Since 2017 Ranking Competition

In March 2021, it marked the first time since the 2017 Ranking Competition that he missed winning a domestic competition when he finished second.

2018: Autumn Classic International Silver Medal

In 2018, Cha Jun-hwan began the season at the Autumn Classic, where he won the silver medal with a total score of 259.78 points, his first senior international medal. He placed second in the short program with 90.56 points and first in the free skate with 169.22 points. All three scores were personal bests, and he landed a quadruple toe loop and a triple Lutz–triple loop combination.

2018: Winter Olympics Games

In 2018, Cha Jun-hwan competed at the Winter Olympics Games in Pyeongchang at the age of 16, finishing in 15th place, the best Olympic result for a South Korean male skater. He had arrived late due to being quarantined with the flu.

2018: Winter Olympics and Grand Prix Final Bronze

In 2018, Cha Jun-hwan represented South Korea at the Winter Olympics. He also won the bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final.

2018: Grand Prix Final Bronze and Third National Title

In 2018, Cha Jun-hwan won the bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final, earning personal bests of 174.42 points in the free skate and 263.49 points in total. He is the first South Korean man to win a Grand Prix Final medal. He then took his third consecutive South Korean national title.

2018: Second Consecutive National Champion and Olympic Selection

In 2018, Cha Jun-hwan won the third-round qualifying and 2018 South Korea Championships to become the second consecutive national champion. He was then selected to represent South Korea at the Olympic Games.

2018: First Grand Prix Medal and Grand Prix Final Qualification

In 2018, at Skate Canada, Cha Jun-hwan won the bronze medal, becoming the second South Korean figure skater ever to win a Grand Prix medal, and the first-ever South Korean man to make the podium. He then won a second bronze medal at 2018 Grand Prix of Helsinki, making him the first-ever South Korean man to win two medals on the Grand Prix series, qualifying him for the 2018 Grand Prix Final.

2019: Fourth Ranking Competition Win and National Title

In 2019, Cha Jun-hwan won the Ranking Competition for the fourth time and claimed his fourth consecutive national title at the 2020 South Korean Championships.

2019: Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist

In 2019, Cha Jun-hwan won the bronze medal at the Grand Prix Final.

2019: 2019 CS Autumn Classic International

In 2019, at the 2019 CS Autumn Classic International, Cha Jun-hwan attempted the quad flip in competition for the first time. He was fourth overall in the competition after several jumps were called underrotated.

2019: Four Continents Championships and World Championships

In 2019, at the Four Continents Championships, Cha Jun-hwan placed sixth overall after struggling in the free skate. He later competed at the 2019 World Figure Skating Championships, finishing nineteenth overall.

January 2020: Participation in 135th IOC Session

In January 2020, Cha Jun-hwan joined the South Korean delegation at the 135th IOC Session to support the bid for the 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.

2020: Opera Piece Chosen for 2020-21 Season

For his free program, Cha Jun-hwan originally chose Turandot, an opera piece for the 2020–21 season but could not receive the choreography due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2020: Four Continents Championships

In 2020, Cha Jun-hwan competed at the Four Continents Championships, held in Seoul. He earned a season's best in the short program despite underrotating his triple Axel attempt. Cha was assigned to represent South Korea at 2020 World Championships but the competition was cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic.

2020: Skate Canada International Cancellation

In 2020, Cha Jun-hwan was assigned to compete at the Skate Canada International event, which was ultimately cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also had challenges adjusting to new training situations.

2021: Fifth Win at Ranking Competition

In 2021, Cha Jun-hwan achieved his fifth win at the Ranking Competition.

2021: Fifth Consecutive Title and World Championships

In 2021, Cha Jun-hwan won his fifth consecutive title at the South Korean Championships in late February and was assigned to Korea's lone men's berth at the 2021 World Championships in Stockholm.

2021: Olympic Test Event, Grand Prix Assignments, and NHK Trophy

In 2021, Cha Jun-hwan's first competition was the Asian Open in Beijing, where he placed sixth. He was reassigned to the Gran Premio d'Italia, finishing fifth overall. At the NHK Trophy, he won a bronze medal.

2021: 2021 Ranking Competition and World Championships

In March 2021, Cha Jun-hwan finished second at the Ranking Competition. At the 2021 World Championships, he placed eighth in the short program and tenth overall, qualifying one berth for Korea at the 2022 Winter Olympics.

2022: Qualification for 2022 Winter Olympics

Due to his performance at the 2021 World Championships, Cha Jun-hwan qualified one berth for Korea at the 2022 Winter Olympics, with the possibility of a second to be earned later.

2022: New Music and Challenger Series Events

Following the 2022 Beijing Olympic cycle, Cha Jun-hwan chose music by Michael Jackson for the short program and the soundtrack of the James Bond film No Time to Die for the free skate. He won silver at the 2022 CS Nepela Memorial and gold at the 2022 CS Finlandia Trophy.

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2022: Gold Medal at Four Continents Championships

In 2022, Cha Jun-hwan was named to the South Korean team for the 2022 Winter Olympics. He won a gold medal at the Four Continents Championships in Tallinn, becoming the first South Korean man to win and medal at the competition.

2022: 2022 Grand Prix Events: Skate America and NHK Trophy

In 2022, Cha Jun-hwan won the bronze medal at Skate America. At the 2022 NHK Trophy, he won another bronze medal.

2022: Four Continents Gold Medalist

In 2022, Cha Jun-hwan won the gold medal at the Four Continents Championships.

2022: 2022 Winter Olympics and World Championships

In 2022, at the Winter Olympics, Cha Jun-hwan placed fifth overall. He later withdrew from the 2022 World Championships due to boot problems, which posed a risk of injury.

2022: 2022 Ranking Competition Win

In December 2022, Cha Jun-hwan won the Ranking Competition held in South Korea for the sixth time.

June 2023: End of Coaching Relationship with Brian Orser

In June 2023, Cha Jun-hwan ended his coaching relationship with Brian Orser after a long collaboration, citing difficulties in training due to changes since Covid.

2023: World Silver Medalist

In 2023, Cha Jun-hwan became the World silver medalist in figure skating.

2023: 2023 Season: Shanghai Trophy, Skate Canada International, and Injury

In 2023, Cha Jun-hwan won the silver medal at the Shanghai Trophy. At the Skate Canada International, he placed ninth overall. He withdrew from the Grand Prix of Espoo due to a right ankle injury but won the Korean national ranking competition using painkillers.

2023: Silver Medal at 2023 World Championships and 2023 World Team Trophy

In 2023, Cha Jun-hwan won the silver medal at the World Championships, becoming the first South Korean male skater to reach the podium. He then helped the Korean team win the silver medal at the 2023 World Team Trophy.

2023: 2023 South Korean Championships and Four Continents Championships

In January 2023, Cha Jun-hwan won his seventh consecutive title at the South Korean Championships. He finished fourth overall at the 2023 Four Continents Championships. To reset, he placed first in the university division of the National Winter Sports Festival.

2024: 2024 Nebelhorn Trophy, Shanghai Trophy, and Asian Games Qualifiers

In 2024, Cha Jun-hwan finished fourth at the Nebelhorn Trophy. He went on to win gold at the 2024 Shanghai Trophy. One week following that event, Cha competed at the 2024 Korean Universiade and Asian Games Qualifiers, which he won.

2024: 2024-25 Grand Prix Series and Finlandia Trophy

In 2024, Cha Jun-hwan placed fourth in the short program at Skate Canada International, moving up to win the bronze medal overall. At the 2024 Finlandia Trophy, he withdrew due to worsening ankle pain and plans to focus on treating his injury.

2024: 2024 Season: National Gold Medal, Four Continents Bronze, and World Championships

In 2024, Cha Jun-hwan won another national gold medal and the bronze medal at the Four Continents Championships. He came tenth at the 2024 World Championships while dealing with an ongoing injury.

2024: Four Continents Bronze Medalist

In 2024, Cha Jun-hwan won the bronze medal at the Four Continents Championships.

August 2025: International Youth Day Keynote Speech

On August 12, 2025, in observance of International Youth Day, Cha Jun-hwan delivered a keynote speech on youth and peace at a public communication event organized by the Ministry of Unification.

2025: Selection for 2025 Winter World University Games and Asian Winter Games

Due to winning the 2024 Korean Universiade and Asian Games Qualifiers, Cha Jun-hwan was selected to represent South Korea at the 2025 Winter World University Games and the 2025 Asian Winter Games.

2025: 2025-26 Challenger Series and Other Competitions

In 2025, Cha Jun-hwan started the season by winning gold at the 2025 CS Kinoshita Group Cup. He then withdrew from the 2025 CS Denis Ten Memorial Challenge due to boot problems and finished eighth at the 2025 Cup of China, also due to skate issues. He placed fifth at the 2025 NHK Trophy, citing limited practice due to boot problems. Despite the challenges, Cha aimed to regroup for the second half of the season.

2025: Honorary and Promotional Ambassador Roles

In 2025, Cha Jun-hwan was appointed as honorary ambassador for Incheon International Airport and became a promotional ambassador for the 120th anniversary of Korea University following his graduation.

2025: 2025 Asian Winter Games Gold Medal and Military Service Classification

In 2025, Cha Jun-hwan won the gold medal at the Asian Winter Games, the first ever for a Korean male skater. Following this win, he was classified as Art and Sports Personnel, a type of supplementary service, generally considered a form of exemption from compulsory military service.

2025: Gold Medal at Ranking Competition and South Korean Championships

In 2025, Cha Jun-hwan won the gold medal at the Ranking Competition and his ninth consecutive national title at the South Korean Championships, solidifying his place on the 2025 Worlds team.

2025: Four Continents Silver and Asian Winter Games Champion

In 2025, Cha Jun-hwan won the silver medal at the Four Continents Championships and became the Asian Winter Games champion.

2025: 2025 Four Continents Championships

In 2025, at the Four Continents Championships held in Seoul, Cha Jun-hwan secured a silver medal after placing fourth in the short program and second in the free skate, where he doubled a planned quad toe loop. Overall, Cha expressed satisfaction with the result, given the challenges faced throughout the season.

2025: 2025 Winter World University Games

In January 2025, Cha Jun-hwan competed at the Winter World University Games in Turin, Italy, and won the bronze medal after delivering a clean free skate, despite recovering from an injury.

2025: 2025 World Championships

In March 2025, at the World Championships in Boston, Cha Jun-hwan finished seventh overall after placing tenth in the short program and fifth in the free skate. This placement earned South Korea one quota for the men's event at the 2026 Winter Olympics and an opportunity to qualify a second quota. Cha reflected on a challenging season with 11 competitions and an injury, expressing gratitude for the support from his family, fans, and coach.

2026: 2026 Winter Olympics Quota

Cha Jun-hwan's performance at the 2025 World Championships earned South Korea one quota for the men's event at the 2026 Winter Olympics, as well as an opportunity to qualify a second quota.

2026: Four Continents Silver

In 2026, Cha Jun-hwan won the silver medal at the Four Continents Championships.

2026: 2026 Korean Ranking Competition and South Korean Championships

In early December, Cha Jun-hwan finished second at the Korean Ranking Competition, securing a spot on the 2026 Four Continents team and leading in the Milan Olympics team selection. He addressed ongoing boot problems and fatigue but expressed determination. The following month, in January 2026, Cha won his tenth consecutive national title at the 2026 South Korean Championships and was named to the 2026 Winter Olympic team.