(Nagoya = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-han = Hwang Seo-hyeon (17, Incheon Physical Education High School), who could not compete in the Asian Games based on individual overall performance alone, secured the last spot on the national team with just one balance beam.
At the first Asian Games stage of her life, which she took such a difficult step on, Hwang Seo-hyun won the balance beam gold medal that Korean women's gymnastics had not been able to find for 40 years.
Seo-Hyeon Hwang took the top spot with a score of 14.700, including a difficulty score of 6.600 and an execution score of 8.100, in the artistic gymnastics women's balance beam finals at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held at the Rainbow Hall at the Nagoya Gymnasium in Japan on the 25th.
In an interview with Yonhap News, Seo-Hyeon Hwang said, "I played the game as usual, and I am really glad that I got a good result," and reflected, "I received a similar score at this year's Asian Championships, so I wasn't really surprised by the score itself, but I was thrilled because I came in first place."
It has been 40 years since Seo Seon-aeng at the 1986 Seoul Games that a Korean athlete won the women's balance beam event at the Asian Games.
In fact, it was difficult for Hwang Seo-hyun to participate in this Asian Games. This is because he did not make it into the top 4 in the individual all-around at the final selection for the Asian Games last May.
However, Hwang Seo-hyun, who showed clear competitiveness on the balance beam, was additionally selected as the fifth athlete based on ranking points for each event.
Seohyun Hwang, who won the ticket to Nagoya as the last one, proved the reason she was selected with a gold medal.
On this day, Seohyun Hwang performed difficult aerial movements on a 10cm wide balance beam without making any major mistakes.
On the final landing, my left foot was slightly pushed back, but I immediately regained my balance and finished the performance.
And as Hwang Seo-hyun looked at the electronic display board, tears were slightly visible at the corners of her eyes.
He said, "I was moved to tears. It was a very different feeling from the Asian Championships," and added, "I still can't quite feel the record of winning the gold medal for the first time in 40 years."
Seohyun Hwang, who conquered the Asian Games stage with just one balance beam, is the second sport she is most confident in: floor exercise.
He said, “If I get ranked in the individual all-around and go to the competition, I definitely want to compete in the floor exercise.”
Hwang Seo-hyun, who has won the Asian Games, also dreams of a 'Grand Slam' by winning the World Championships and the Olympics.
The first step is the 54th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships, which will be held in Rotterdam, Netherlands from the 17th to the 25th of next month.
He said, "I want to become a balance beam medalist at the Olympics. I will pay more attention and do my best at this world championship."
Women's national team coach Min Ah-young, who coaches Hwang Seo-hyun, also highly evaluated her growth potential.
He said, “I only had one goal: a gold medal, but thanks to the hard work of my youngest member, Seohyun Hwang, I was able to add one more gold medal, so I’m grateful.”
He added, "Hwang Seo-hyun is still focusing on one event on the balance beam, but if you are a gymnast, you have to do all four events," and added, "I will guide you to work harder and increase the level of difficulty so that you can move towards the Olympics step by step."
