Following South Korean figure skating star Cha Jun-hwan's announcement of a temporary suspension of his athletic career, an outpouring of supportive comments has flooded online platforms.

On October 12, Cha shared via social media, "I have thought and pondered a great deal about my future activities," adding, "After much deliberation, I have decided not to continue national team activities and competition entries for this season."

An SBS news report covering the news surpassed 3.5 million views on YouTube within a day, and received more than 2,000 comments offering support and encouragement.

Netizens reacted with comments such as, "You have been running non-stop, and we support your future path," and "You have been to three Olympics alone; it wouldn't be strange even if you retired." This particular comment garnered a staggering 10,000 likes, making it clear how deeply loved Cha has been by his fans.

In particular, one netizen who claimed to be a neighbor in the same apartment building left a comment saying, "He has been great at greeting people since he was a kid," and "I hope he does well no matter what he does and where." Other netizens who saw the comment responded with reactions like, "I often saw him in front of the rice cake shop in the basement too," and "The comment is so heartwarming."

After the last Olympics, Cha signed an exclusive contract with an entertainment agency. With his past history as an advertising model and child actor during his youth being re-examined, speculation is gaining weight that he might begin full-scale entertainment activities.

Attention is now focused on what kind of image Cha will present when he stands before the public again, having temporarily left the ice rink.

(Reported by Yoon Sung-sik | Video edited by Kim Gi-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News)