College Student's Olympics Videos Hit 1M Views in Milan

When Kim Min-seo landed a spot on a university media team covering the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, she had no idea her work would reach over a million people. The Yonsei University junior and aspiring TV producer created content that resonated far beyond expectations, with her personal contributions generating more than 650,000 views across Instagram and YouTube.

Kim was one of eight Team Woori Supporters selected through a competitive process to cover Team Korea during the final week of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Woori Financial Group sponsored the entire trip, covering airfare, accommodations, and organizing daily assignments for students from three Seoul universities.

The experience tested Kim's resourcefulness immediately. Of the three Yonsei students on the team, only she handled production, filming, and editing, while her teammates managed administrative tasks and basic filming support.

She completed three short clips and one long-form video under tight deadlines, then voluntarily created two additional pieces. When her original plan for a short track speed skating story fell flat, she pivoted quickly and interviewed international tourists on Milan's streets instead.

Copyright restrictions at the women's figure skating competition forced another creative solution. Kim filmed only the Korean competitors Lee Hae-in and Shin Ji-a before and after their performances, capturing intimate behind-the-scenes moments rather than the competition itself.

The Ripple Effect

Kim's success sparked genuine curiosity across South Korean university campuses. Students wondered how their peers managed to cover the world's largest winter sporting event and capture Korean athletes in action.

"Since the Team Woori Supporters are made up of university students, many of them watched the content and were curious about what could be produced by people of their own age," Kim explained during a phone interview with The Korea Times.

The relatively lower global interest in the 2026 Winter Olympics made the viewership numbers even more impressive. Kim's long-form video alone attracted over 4,500 views, demonstrating that authentic, student-created content could cut through the noise.

Kim acknowledged the challenges, including navigating large crowds to secure an interview with Kwak Yoon-gy, a Yonsei alumnus and former Olympic short track athlete working as a commentator. The pressure taught her practical lessons about working under deadline and the realities of television production.

"The process was often painful, but through this experience, I realized that I still love video production and have grown to cherish this world even more," Kim said. The assignment helped her solidify her career path, transforming vague dreams about being a TV producer into concrete skills and confidence.

Kim expressed deep gratitude to Woori Financial Group for the opportunity, noting that few students get hands-on experience covering international sporting events as credentialed press. Her success proves that with the right support, young creators can produce professional-quality content that captures millions of hearts.