Short track icon Choi Min-jeong is set to reveal a surprising, down-to-earth side — all while flaunting the stats of Korea's most decorated Olympic medalist.
The March 25 episode of MBC variety show Radio Star features Choi Min-jeong, Kim Gil-li, Kim Sang-gyeom, and Yoo Seung-eun in a special titled 'Olympic Stories — Final Cut with Choi Min-jeong'.
Choi competed at the PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022, and Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, becoming the Korean athlete with the most Olympic medals. On the show, she shocks viewers by revealing she has won a total of 144 medals at international competitions — 85 of them gold. As for her domestic tally, she laughs it off, saying, "I stopped counting a long time ago." She also revisits the nerve-racking, emotional behind-the-scenes story of winning gold in the women's relay at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, bringing the tension and thrill of the moment back to life.
Choi gets candid about her nicknames. She admits feeling pressured by the 'ice princess' label that stuck due to her stoic game-face, but says the phrase 'living legend' "sounds less cringey because it's in English," responding with playful wit. Thanks to Kim Gil-li's playful reveal, it also comes out that teammates in the athletes' village call her Elsa, sparking laughter.
Contrary to her fierce charisma on the rink, Choi shows an unexpectedly shy side on variety shows. She recalls freezing up on JTBC's 'Please Take Care of My Refrigerator' and being so nervous she could barely make eye contact with the chefs — a charming twist fans didn't see coming.
She also teases a near-miss that almost kept her from returning to Korea right after the Olympics, raising curiosity. When Kim Gil-li jokes, "She can't do anything except skate," Choi agrees and unveils a daily life full of lovable clumsy moments, showing her human side.
Meanwhile, the episode of Radio Star featuring the four athletes airs on the 25th at 10:30 p.m.