1. Sunghoon was a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
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In a full-circle moment, ENHYPEN’s Sunghoon, a former South Korean figure skater who once dreamed of competing at the Winter Olympics, carried the torch for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics relay in Milan in the final 24 hours of the relay.
As a goodwill ambassador for the Korean Olympic & Sport Committee (KSOC), he reflects on the honour, sharing in a press conference: “My first dream was to skate at an Olympics, but I have chosen to pursue my second dream as a pop idol. Even though I am in a different career now, I feel like I’ve realised my dream.”
ENHYPHEN’s track “SHOUT OUT” was also selected as South Korea’s official cheer song for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, making this an extra memorable and sentimental occasion for Sunghoon.
2. Sunghoon trained as a professional figure skater and competed for South Korea for around 10 years
October 01, 2016 Competing during the Junior Men Free Skating on day three of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating on in Tallinn, Estonia
Photo: Joosep Martinson - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images
October 01, 2016 Competing during the Junior Men Free Skating on day three of the ISU Junior Grand Prix of Figure Skating on in Tallinn, Estonia
Photo: Joosep Martinson - International Skating Union/International Skating Union via Getty Images
Sunghoon spent nearly a decade training as a professional figure skater, competing for South Korea on some of the sport’s biggest stages. He carved out an impressive skating career as a young athlete, earning consecutive silver medals in the junior men’s singles at the Asian Open Figure Skating Trophy in 2016 and 2017. He also represented South Korea at two International Skating Union Junior Figure Skating Grand Prix events, proving himself a rising star on the ice.
In the final two years of his skating career, Sunghoon pulled double duty, balancing life on the rink with rigorous K-pop idol training under BigHit Entertainment. Ultimately, he retired as a professional skater in 2020—the same year he made his debut with ENHYPEN.
3. Sunghoon’s first winter sport was actually ice hockey, not figure skating
Sunghoon may be known as ENHYPEN’s resident “Ice Prince,” but his journey on the ice actually began with a hockey stick in hand. As a quiet and shy kid, his parents encouraged him to take up ice hockey to build social skills—a decision he now calls one of the best of his life. Trading slapshots for spins, he eventually found his true passion in figure skating, where daily practice taught him the art of discipline, the thrill of mastering technique and the joy of competition. Little did he know that those years on the rink would lay the foundation for his artistry as a global K-pop star.
4. Sunghoon was scouted by BigHit Entertainment in 2018 via Instagram DMs
Sometimes, life slides into your DMs—literally. In 2018, Sunghoon was scouted by BigHit Entertainment via Instagram DMs while he was still a competitive figure skater and a member of South Korea’s national reserve team.
After a private audition, he joined the company as a trainee to hone his figure-skating skills, with no intention of becoming a K-pop idol. But everything shifted after attending BTS’s Love Yourself concert. Watching their powerful performance of “Idol,” Sunghoon knew in that moment he wanted to trade the rink for the stage.
Talk about a plot twist worthy of a triple axel!
5. Sunghoon placed 6th in the final episode of I-LAND, securing his debut as ENHYPEN
Sunghoon placed 6th in the finale of Mnet’s survival show I-LAND, a high-stakes competition where 23 trainees battled it out in a futuristic, high-tech facility for a chance at stardom. His ranking secured him a spot as one of the top seven finalists to debut in ENHYPEN, the boy group formed through the show produced by Mnet and Belift Lab (a joint venture between CJ ENM and HYBE).
6. Sunghoon is an ambassador for PRADA and the face of many other brands
September 19, 2024 Arriving at the Prada fashion show during the Milan Womenswear Spring/Summer 2025 in Milan, Italy
Photo: Andreas Rentz/Getty Images
Sunghoon’s star power extends beyond the stage, dominating the worlds of fashion and beauty. In June 2023, he and his ENHYPEN bandmates were named PRADA brand ambassadors, followed by his appointment as a “friend of the house” for Tiffany & Co. in April 2024, representing South Korea and Japan alongside bandmate Jake.
December 13, 2024 attending a Tiffany & Co. event with Jake at Lotte Avenuel Jamsil in Songpa-gu, Seoul
Photo: The Chosunilbo JNS/Imazins via Getty Images
That same year, in May, he became a brand model for South Korean cosmetics brand Hince and was also tapped as an ambassador for L’Oréal Paris in September. By February 2025, he was stepping into the sportswear scene as a campaign model for Adidas Originals. What can’t he do?
7. Sunghoon was also an MC for Music Bank
Sunghoon took centre stage as a beloved MC for KBS’s Music Bank, hosting from October 2021 to September 2022 alongside IVE’s Wonyoung. Dubbed the “Jangkku” pair, their undeniable chemistry even earned them the Best Couple Award at the 2021 KBS Entertainment Awards.
Proving he’s not done charming the audience, Sunghoon made a grand return in 2024 to host the Music Bank Global Festival.
8. Sunghoon’s MBTI was ISTJ, and he may now be an ISTP
In early 2023, Sunghoon revealed during a Weverse Live that his MBTI* had shifted from ISTJ to ISTP. ENGENE, however, still widely associate him with his OG ISTJ traits—orderly, calm, and, of course, quietly savage (or loudly savage when it comes to teasing his bandmate Sunoo). But over the years, his observant streak has shown up in the most unexpected ways in endearing acts of care for his members.
*Note that MBTI changes over time
9. Sunghoon is known to be a protective older brother
Sunghoon takes his role as a big brother seriously, especially when it comes to his younger sister, Park Yeji, who’s five years his junior. Their sibling bond first melted hearts on Crayon in My Mind (2014), where little Yeji adorably helped Sunghoon with his muscle exercises at home.
Fast forward to his I-LAND and ENHYPEN days, Sunghoon’s overprotective streak shines whenever the question of which member he’d let date his sister pops up—spoiler: absolutely no one. Their close bond was showcased once again in an EN-loG vlog, where Sunghoon took Yeji shopping around Seoul and bought her everything she wanted. Admit it—don’t you wish you had an older brother like Sunghoon?
10. Sunghoon is a gym rat
You best believe that nothing comes between Sunghoon and his workout routine (except maybe a high-protein meal). Whether it’s hitting the weights or fueling up on gains, this man takes “fit and focused” to a whole new level.
