Kim Min-seok on Feb. 8 waves the national flag at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics after winning the bronze medal in the men's 1,500-m race at the National Speed Skating Oval in the Chinese capital. (Yonhap News)

By Lee Jihae

Speedskater Kim Min-seok on Feb. 8 clinched the bronze medal in the men's 1,500-m race at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

This was the first medal won by Korea at the Beijing Games.

Kim finished with a time of 1:44.24 at the National Speed Skating Oval in Beijing to claim the bronze.

Kjeld Nuis (1:43.21) won the gold and Thomas Krol (1:43.55) the silver. Both are from the Netherlands.

In 2018, Kim became the first Asian to win the bronze in the same event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

After the event, he said, "I ran the race with no regrets," adding, "I will become an Olympic champion four years from now."

President Moon Jae-in sent a congratulatory telegram to Kim, calling him the "protagonist winning Korea's awaited first medal."

The president said Kim gave Koreans great pride by making history as the first Asian to win two consecutive medals in the difficult 1,500-m event, giving a big boost of confidence to other members of the national team.

President Moon said a lot of sweat and effort must have gone into the day's accomplishment, which was achieved by peerless faith. He said he "unsparingly" applauded Kim's spirit of challenge and passion. 

President Moon Jae-in on Feb. 8 sent a congratulatory telegram to men's speedskater Kim Min-seok for winning a bronze medal at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. (Cheong Wa Dae's official Facebook page)