Skater Kim Says New Program Almost Done

“I wish everyone who roots for me a happy (Chuseok) holiday.”

Figure skating sensation Kim Yu-na yesterday sent her best wishes to her fans while training in Canada for the International Skating Union`s Grand Prix of Figure Skating series.

Her management agency IB Sports quoted her as saying, “I`ve completely recovered from last year’s injury. And the pain in my hips and waist are gone. I will try to stay in good condition for the first competition at the end of October.”

Kim is preparing her new free skating program. “I am doing my best to make a perfect program. I`ve completed 85 percent of it,” she said.

“I’m in good condition and the background music is also the one I`ve long wanted to perform to. So right now, I`m highly motivated to work on the new program.”

The new background piece is Scheherazade. “Though many skaters have used this music, I don`t mind. I will make people think about me when they hear Scheherazade,” she said.

Kim, who will attend university next year, applied to Korea University in Seoul Tuesday online. “I will miss high school but at the same time, I`m looking forward to college life, though it hasn`t hit me yet.”

On what she does when not training, she said, “I often go to karaoke to sing Korean pop songs and decorate my mini homepage to relieve stress.”

kimsk@donga.com