At the recent semifinals of the short track mixed relay at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the South Korean team suffered a major collision with the USA which ultimately led to their elimination from medal contention. Despite having a solid lineup that includes top athletes like Choi Min-jung and Kim Gil-ri, the team finished third in their heat, which prevented them from advancing to the finals. The unexpected incident occurred when USA's Corinne Stodard fell unexpectedly, causing Kim Gil-ri, who was racing closely behind, to crash into her, leaving the Korean team unable to recover in time to secure a better position.

Following the incident, the referees convened to discuss the possibility of advancing Korea based on the circumstances of the collision, but ultimately upheld the results confirming Korea’s third-place finish. This decision led to a strong protest from the Korean coaching staff, but their appeals were dismissed since Kim Gil-ri was in third place at the time of the crash. The disappointment following the semifinal race was palpable, particularly for Kim Gil-ri, who was seen crying upon realizing their chances for a medal were dashed once again.

This misfortune adds to South Korea's history with mixed relays, having also missed out on medals in the event debut at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. With hopes raised from consistent podium finishes in the lead-up to these Games, the team expressed their determination to aim for redemption in their upcoming races. Choi Min-jung’s reflection on the race emphasized the collective support from fans, and she pledged to strive for better outcomes in future events as they reset for the rest of the competition.