In 2010 and 2018 he was presented with the Best Athlete Award at the Coca-Cola Athletics Awards in the Republic of Korea. (sports.donga.com, 21 Mar 2018; jkn.co.kr, 29 Mar 2010)

He was part of the team that received the Best Group Award at the 2014 Coca-Cola Athletics Awards in the Republic of Korea. (etoday.co.kr, 12 Mar 2014)

In 2011 he was given the Best Performance Award by the Korean Olympic Committee [KOC]. He was also presented with the KOC President's Award in the same year. (dt.co.kr, 24 Feb 2011)

He became the first athlete from any sport representing the Republic of Korea to have won six medals at the Olympic Winter Games with bronze in the mass start at the 2022 Games in Beijing. He also has gold medals in the 10,000m [2010] and mass start [2018], and silver medals in the 5000m [2010] and team pursuit [2014 and 2018]. (SportsDeskOnline, 20 Nov 2022; news.imaeil.com, 20 Oct 2022; joongang.co.kr, 19 Feb 2022)

He became the first male speed skater to win gold in the mass start event at the Olympic Winter Games by claiming victory in the inaugural mass start race at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. (SportsDeskOnline, 28 Sep 2018; english.chosun.com, 26 Feb 2018)

He cut his right calf on his skating blade after falling during the team pursuit at the 2017 World Single Distances Championships in Gangneung, Republic of Korea. He required eight stitches in the wound. (hankookilbo.com, 20 Feb 2017)

Winning silver in the 5000m at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, which was his first Olympic medal. (Athlete, 09 Feb 2023, 15 Nov 2023)

SANCTION
In July 2019 he was suspended for one year by the Korea Skating Union [KSU] after he was found to have physically assaulted two younger teammates. He returned to competition in November 2020. (news.kmib.co.kr, 25 Nov 2020; stoo.asiae.co.kr, 19 Nov 2020; en.yna.co.kr, 04 Aug 2020; YouTube channel, 04 Aug 2020)

ENDURANCE
Despite competing in the relatively shorter distances in short track, he chose to concentrate on the 5000m and 10,000m when he switched to speed skating. "The reason I chose the 5000m, not the 500m or 1500m, is because my strength is stamina and my weakness is quickness. I'm not that tall, but I'm proud of my stamina. If there were a 20,000m event, I guarantee that I'd win it." (koreatimes.co.kr, 15 Jan 2010)

He has represented the Republic of Korea in short track and was part of the 5000m relay team that claimed gold at the 2008 World Championships in Gangneung, Republic of Korea. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 Oct 2017; chosun.com, 24 Feb 2010)