Tae Ok Ryom & Ju Sik Kim | Golden Skate

Tae Ok Ryom & Ju Sik Kim

tulosai

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Tae Ok Ryom (Korean: 렴대옥) and Ju Sik Kim (Korean: 김주식) are pair skaters representing North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea). Since the order of names of the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans is family name followed by given name, they can be also introduced as Ryom Tae Ok and Kim Ju Sik. Tae Ok's alternative name is Ryeom Dae-ok.

Tae Ok was born on 2 February 1999 in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Ju Sik Kim was born on 25 September 1992, also in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

They are the 2018 Four Continents bronze medalists and the 2017 Asian Winter Games bronze medalists. They also won silver medals at 2018 ISU CS Asian Open.

Ryom and Kim are the first North Korean figure skaters to win medals at an International Skating Union event.

Tae Ok Ryom's former partners were Chang Gon O and Mun Song Kim. Ju Sik Kim's previous partners were Gyong Mi Kwang and Kang Kyong Mi.

The pair is coached in Pyongyang by Hyon Son Kim and has their programs choreographed by Julie Marcotte. While preparing to compete at the XXIII Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, they trained in Canada with Bruno Marcotte (see below a link to a short video report).

ISU Bio
http://www.isuresults.com/bios/isufs00015041.htm

Rinkresults
Tae Ok - http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=32541
Ju Sik - http://www.rinkresults.com/skater?skater_id=32542

Stats on Ice Bio
https://www.statsonice.com/skaterteam/tae-okryomju-sikkim/

Wiki pages
Tae Ok - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryom_Tae-ok
Ju Sik - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Ju-sik


TypeScoreCompetition
Personal Best Total Score187.95ISU GP Internationaux de France 2018
Personal Best Score Short Program67.18ISU GP Internationaux de France 2018
Personal Best Score Free Skating120.77ISU GP Internationaux de France 2018

TypeScoreCompetition
Personal Best Total Score
193.63
XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018
Personal Best Score Short Program
69.40
XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018
Personal Best Score Free Skating
124.23
XXIII Olympic Winter Games 2018




Programs and Videos

2019/2020
SP: "We Will Never Forget" by Om Ha Jin performed by the National Symphonic Orchestra; choreo by Julie Marcotte
FS: "Fly High, Doves" by Choe Hong Nam; choreo by Julie Marcotte

2019 Nebelhorn Trophy

2018/2019
SP: "A Day in the Life" by Paul McCartney and John Lennon, performed by Jeff Beck
FS: "Je ne suis qu'une chanson" by Diane Justler, performed by Ginette Reno
Ex: "Gobaek" by Hwang Jun Yong

2019 World Championships
SP: no video found​
2018 GP Internationaux de France
2018 GP Helsinki
SP: no video found​
Ex: no video found​
2018 CS Asian Open FS Trophy Bangkok
SP: no video found​

2017/2018
SP: "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles
FS: "Je ne suis qu'une chanson" by Diane Justler, performed by Ginette Reno
Ex: "Bangabsumnida" (Nice to Meet You) by Hwang Jin Yong

2018 World Championships
SP: no video found​
XXIII Winter Olympic Games PyeongChang
2018 Four Continents Championships
2017 Nebelhorn Trophy
2017 Championnats québécois d'été
SP: no video found​

2016/2017
SP: "A Day in the Life" by The Beatles
FS: "The Prince and the Sugarplum Fairy" (from "The Nutcracker") by P. I. Tchaikovski; choreo by Hyon Son Kim

2017 World Championships
2017 Asian Winter Games Sapporo
FS: no video found​
2016 Asian Open Trophy Manila

2015/2016
SP: "Salut d'Amour" by Elgar; choreo by Hyon Son Kim
LP: "The Prince and the Sugarplum Fairy" (from "The Nutcracker") by P. I. Tchaikovski; choreo by Hyon Son Kim

2016 Cup of Tyrol Innsbruck
FS: No video found​
2016 Four Continents Championships
SP: no video found​
2015 Ice Challenge of Graz

Competitive History

Competition​
SP​
FS​
Final​
Season 2019/2020​
2019 GP Cup of China
8 (60.50)​
4 (119.05)​
5 (179.55)​
2019 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
4 (66.91)​
5 (116.11)​
3 (183.02)​
Season 2018/2019​
2019 World Championships
13 (58.77)
10 (116.54)
11 (175.31)
2019 Four Continents Championships
WD
2018 GP Internationaux de France
2 (67.18)​
4 (120.77)​
4 (187.95)​
2018 GP Helsinki
5 (56.87)​
4 (117.37)​
5 (174.24)​
2018 CS Asian Open FS Trophy Bangkok
2 (60.40)​
2 (112.80)​
2 (173.20)​
Season 2017/2018​
2018 World Championships
12 (66.32)​
12 (122.45)​
12 (188.77)​
XXIII Winter Olympic Games PyeongChang
11 (69.40)​
12 (124.23)​
13 (193.63)​
2018 Four Continents Championships
4 (65.25)​
3 (119.73)​
3 (184.98)​
2017 CS Nebelhorn Trophy
4 (60.09)​
3 (119.90)​
3 (180.09)​
2017 Championnats québécois d'été 2017
2 (67.38)​
2 (113.62)​
2 (181.00)​
Season 2016/2017​
2017 World Championships
14 (64.52)​
15 (105.13)​
15 (169.65)​
2017 Asian Winter Games
3 (65.22)​
3 (112.18)​
3 (177.40)​
2016 Asian Open Trophy
2 (51.16)​
1 (92.99)​
1 (144.15)​
Season 2015/2016​
2016 Cup of Tyrol Innsbruck
3 (53.64)​
3 (106.39)​
3 (160.03)​
2016 ISU Four Continents Championships
8 (53.83)​
7 (103.41)​
7 (157.24)​
2015 ISU CS Ice Challenge
5 (44.16)​
5 (88.02)​
5 (132.18)​


Miscellanea


Articles and Media
Mar. 25, 2019 - video report "DPRK Ryom Tae-ok & Kim Ju-sik star skaters visit North Korean school in Japan"
Video no longer available

26 Jan. 2018 GS article "Kayne and O’Shea capture gold at Four Continents" with reference to the North Coreans - https://goldenskate.com/2018/01/2018-four-continents-pairs/

9 Jan. 2018 video "Meet the Canadian who trained North Korea's Olympic-qualifying figure skaters" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFKli5-B3RA

8 Jan. 2018 video report "North Korean ice skaters trained for Olympics in Canada" -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5d2aCYXL07I

27 Feb, 2017 article - https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2017/02/27/north-korea-pairs-figure-skating-pyeongchang-olympics/

Nov. 2016 North Korean documentary solely about them - (13 minutes) - https://youtu.be/EmnVr4hG3WY
Original post
These two represent the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. They competed at the Ice Challenge in Graz earlier this season and are now entered in 4CCs. I had absolutely no idea what to expect before the Ice Challenge, but was favorably impressed with them there. They have a pleasant style and technically are on par with many of the B level teams currently competing. They did achieve comfortably above the 4CCs minimums there; they also achieved the Worlds minimum in their Free Skate, but were slightly under it in their Short program. I do honestly think they have a good shot at hitting the Worlds SP minimum at 4CCs.

I did not open a thread for them before because I quite frankly did not know if we'd ever see them again, but now that they are officially entered in 4CCs I thought I would open this thread here and show them some love. I am confident that many more people will be pleasantly surprised by this pair when they see them there, and I am glad that their federation is giving them these chances to go to international competitions.

These two are still very difficult to find information about and videos of at the moment, but I will post things as I find them. To start, here are their ISU and Stats on Ice Bios.
 
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solar

I got cat class and I got cat style
Medalist
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Country
United-States
This pair definitely caught my eye during the Ice Challenge. I'm anticipating their 4cc performance. I'm glad they're able to compete
 

tulosai

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
These two did just great in their 4CC's SP :) There TES was over 4 points above the Worlds minimum. They also smashed their Ice Challenge score by 9 points :) I hope this means they will be able to go to Worlds but am not sure if this will be enough time for them to obtain a visa. I have done a little google research and it looks like it is at least theoretically possible for a North Korean to obtain a visa to the USA (the internet makes is sound like it's harder for them to get an exit visa from North Korea than an entry one but who knows if that's true), but I just don't know if 1 month is realistically enough time.

No one appears to have posted a video of their skate yet but stay tuned- I will come post it as soon as I find one, I am sure one must be out there somewhere!
 

tulosai

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
These two did great again today! They ended up 7th (which I think is very good in this field) and beat their previous personal best score by 15 points. This will also move them up from 50 to 28 on the Season's best list which actually might be good enough for them to get a Grand Prix spot next year :cheer:

This is a link to their skate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XaeOfefTik
 

s_parks

Record Breaker
Joined
Sep 25, 2013
Just watched their fs, and wow, i'm so impressed! Really hope they go to worlds and get a gp assignment next season. :cheer:
 

Princessroja

Record Breaker
Joined
Jun 22, 2015
Country
United-States
These two did great again today! They ended up 7th (which I think is very good in this field) and beat their previous personal best score by 15 points. This will also move them up from 50 to 28 on the Season's best list which actually might be good enough for them to get a Grand Prix spot next year :cheer:

This is a link to their skate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XaeOfefTik

I was totally just coming to this thread to ask if they might get a gp next year! That'd be awesome if they did! I hope they continue to do well. I've heard that sometimes North Korea doesn't keeping sending athletes internationally if they don't do well (confirmation or correction welcome), so I hope that they're doing well enough to keep getting sent out. They look like a fun team, and it's good to see teams from smaller federations!
 

tulosai

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
I was totally just coming to this thread to ask if they might get a gp next year! That'd be awesome if they did! I hope they continue to do well. I've heard that sometimes North Korea doesn't keeping sending athletes internationally if they don't do well (confirmation or correction welcome), so I hope that they're doing well enough to keep getting sent out. They look like a fun team, and it's good to see teams from smaller federations!

I don't think any of us really know if this is true because in recent years North Korea has sent out so few athletes internationally- this is literally the first North Korean figure skating team or skater I remember seeing and I have been following skating for 20+ years now, almost 15 of those quite seriously. I was worried about this after the Ice Challenge, but I think their result here should be good enough to allow them to be sent at least to Worlds if they can get the visa, and then we'll have to see how they do there I suppose. Realistically speaking they have had a very strong international debut this season, especially with their being from such a small and unimportant/perhaps even dismissed federation, but I don't know what results the North Korean federation would consider 'good enough' if that makes sense. I think all they can do though is keep trying to show improvement at each competition and they definitely did that here.

I do really think with some more experience their PCS have the potential to go up quite a bit. Their tech is already actually sufficient- the only 'crucial' imprvements that need to be made are if they could just get the twist stronger and slightly strengthen their SBS jumps. The throws, lifts, spins and so on are all already of good quality and getting fine levels though they should keep trying to polish everything to make it really great and really get the GOEs up.
 

matmuh

what are levels anyway
Record Breaker
Joined
May 2, 2014
i am pleasantly surprised by how refined they skated, not expected that at all! they have so much promise,their throws are really good!! and she is a cutie! hopefully we will see them more often :hap85:
 

ice coverage

avatar credit: @miyan5605
Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
More photos from Four Continents:

SP:
https://www.facebook.com/isufigures...007411190874/1115864568438483/?type=3&theater


Cross-posting from the North Korea festival thread:

The ISU Instagram account posted a photo of Ryom/Kim's FS death spiral:

Here they are with skaters from other countries at the banquet in Taipei:

One more off-ice photo of them from Four Continents:
 

tulosai

Record Breaker
Joined
Dec 21, 2011
Sadly these two are not on the list for Worlds :(:sad21: I can't honestly say I am surprised but I am very disappointed.
 

GF2445

Record Breaker
Joined
Feb 7, 2012
With the political climate not in good shape with the really tough sanctions doesnt help

Also, since worlds is in the US (and everyone knows how north koreans are told to think about americans) doesnt help either.
 

Skye

On the Ice
Joined
Mar 23, 2006
Guess this means they will not be in the Team Challenge Cup either. :( Hoping the streaming at Tyrol is good enough.
 

dorispulaski

Wicked Yankee Girl
Joined
Jul 26, 2003
Country
United-States
Their bio gives a peekhole into the mystery that is figure skating in North Korea:

National Championships

2009-2010. 5.S(2) Tae Ok RYOM / Chang Gon O (PRK placed fifth
2010-2011.
2011-2012. 3.S(2)(2): Tae Ok RYOM / Chang Gon O (PRK placed third
2012-2013. 1.S(2) / 3.S(1) Tae Ok RYOM / Chang Gon O (PRK) placed first, : Kyong Mi KANG / Ju Sik KIM (PRK) placed third
2013-2014. 3.S(3) / 4.S. Tae Ok RYOM / Mun Song KIM (PRK) and Kyong Mi KANG / Ju Sik KIM (PRK placed fourth
2014-2015
2015-2016


S=Senior; J=Junior; N=Novice

Ju Sik Kim has been competing in Senior Pairs since 2009-2010.
Tae Ok Ryom has competed in S

(1): Kyong Mi KANG / Ju Sik KIM (PRK), (2): Tae Ok RYOM / Chang Gon O (PRK) , (3): Tae Ok RYOM / Mun Song KIM (PRK)


Thus we see there have been as many as five senior pairs in one season, and Tae Ok Ryom has skated in senior pairs since 2009-2010. Ju Sik Kim is her third partner.


That's a fairly large pair grouping for a smaller federation.
 
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