ENHYPEN’s Sunghoon Appointed as Torchbearer for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
In a prestigious intersection of global pop culture and international athletics, ENHYPEN member Sunghoon has been selected to serve as a torchbearer for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This appointment underscores the growing synergy between the K-pop industry and the Olympic movement.
The Winter Games are slated to begin on February 6, 2026. Sunghoon will participate in the official torch relay following an invitation from Samsung Electronics, a Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner. This role is especially significant given Sunghoon’s personal history; before his debut as an idol, he was a distinguished competitive figure skater and a member of South Korea’s national reserve team.
His deep-rooted connection to the sporting world has continued into his music career. Since 2025, Sunghoon has served as a promotional ambassador for the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, working to bridge the gap between elite sports and contemporary culture. By carrying the Olympic flame, he will symbolize unity, peace, and international cooperation, becoming only the second K-pop artist to participate in an overseas Olympic torch relay.
Reflecting on the honor, Sunghoon stated: “I am acutely aware of the passion and tireless effort national athletes invest in their Olympic preparation, and I am honored to offer them my full support. Once, competing in the Olympics was my personal dream as an athlete; to be reunited with that dream now through my journey as a singer is incredibly moving and a profound privilege.”
The presence of ENHYPEN will also resonate through the Games’ soundtrack. The group’s high-energy track “SHOUT OUT,” originally featured on their 2022 mini-album MANIFESTO : DAY 1, has been officially designated as the cheer song for Team Korea during the Milano Cortina Games.
This announcement follows a period of significant commercial success for the group. ENHYPEN recently saw their seventh mini-album, THE SIN : VANISH, debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, moving 122,400 equivalent album units in its first week. This achievement marks their fifth consecutive Top 5 entry, further establishing ENHYPEN as a formidable force in the global music landscape.
