The "Figure Queen" Yuna Kim is taking on a bold new challenge. This time, she’s trading the ice for the stage, transforming into a ballerina to deliver another truly iconic performance.
On the 6th, Kakao Entertainment announced it will unveil Google’s campaign 'Our Queen is back,' directed by Dolphin Kidnappers’ Shin Wooseok. The project is a collaboration featuring Yuna Kim and Korea’s renowned prima ballerina Kang Sue-jin, premiering today on the Google Korea YouTube channel before rolling out sequentially on the Dolphin Kidnappers channel.
The centerpiece of this campaign is a performance that reimagines Yuna Kim’s signature program Dance of Death as ballet. The piece that once mesmerized the world on the ice is being reborn through ballet choreography, promising a completely different artistic sensibility. Even the teaser, which shows Yuna Kim in ballet attire, has already sparked major buzz.
Notably, Kang Sue-jin’s participation raises the bar. Anticipation is high for the synergy between two figures at the very peak of their respective genres—figure skating and ballet. In addition to the main performance video, the team will release making-of clips, behind-the-scenes footage, and a variety of short-form content to spotlight the project from every angle.
Director Shin Wooseok is another key highlight. Known for inventive storytelling and striking visuals that go beyond traditional advertising, Shin once again draws out a new side of Yuna Kim with a fresh approach. His earlier collaborations with Google earned praise for emotive direction and twist-filled narratives, fueling expectations for top-tier quality this time as well.
The campaign is also meaningful as a fusion of technology and art. Google’s AI, Gemini, supported choreography composition, blocking and staging, as well as stage and costume design, with Kang Sue-jin reviewing the outputs and experts refining the final results. Yuna Kim actively used AI during practice to analyze and fine-tune her movements. Rather than a simple tech add-on, it stands out as a case that integrates AI throughout the creative process.
All eyes are on what kind of emotion this project will deliver as the legend of the ice expands onto the ballet stage.
Meanwhile, Yuna Kim won gold in the ladies’ singles at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, becoming Korea’s first-ever Olympic medalist in figure skating. She went on to take gold at the 2013 World Championships and silver at her retirement stage, the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, earning the nickname 'Queen Yuna.' After retiring, she tied the knot with Ko Woo-rim, a member of the male crossover quartet Forestella, in 2022.