South Korean Ice Dancer Quan Ye Forms New Partnership with Hannah Kihyun Kim

SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- Naturalized South Korean ice dancer Quan Ye has announced a new partnership with Korean American skater Hannah Kihyun Kim.

Quan uploaded a black-and-white video clip of his training session with Kim on his Instagram page Wednesday, accompanied by the words: "The start of a new, exciting chapter. Excited to officially announce our new ice dance partnership! We can't wait to begin this journey together!"

Quan, born in Iceland and raised in Canada, previously skated with Korean Canadian Hannah Lim. Quan became a South Korean citizen through naturalization in December 2024.

Quan and Lim competed at this year's Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. Before that, they won the world junior silver medal in 2023 and helped South Korea to silver at the World Team Trophy that same season.

However, Lim switched allegiance to Canada earlier this month and formed a new tandem with Zachary Lagha.

Quan has maintained his South Korean ties, and the 24-year-old will now represent his adopted country with a new partner.

Kim, 22, holds U.S. citizenship but is believed to be working on recovering her Korean nationality.

In competitions organized by the International Skating Union, such as world championships and Grand Prix, ice dancers or pairs skaters are allowed to represent one nation if the partners hold different citizenships. However, both skaters must hold the same citizenship in order to represent a country at the Olympic Games.

According to the Korea Skating Union, Quan will be ineligible to skate for South Korea in the 2026-27 season after parting with Lim. The two had been selected for the national team for the upcoming season, but Quan lost his eligibility when Lim departed the country.

Quan and Kim will likely prepare for their South Korea debut in the 2027-28 season.