That is what people in the figuring skating world are wondering as the Korean figure skating sensation continues to shine:

Only when China’s Lu Chen was on the cusp of a world figure skating title in the mid-1990s did the actual arrangement of her name become an issue. Was it Lu Chen, or Chen Lu?

Soon, figure skating mavens were wagging all-knowing fingers at one another — until LuLu, perhaps embarrassed by the whole thing, said either one was fine with her.

So in a way, it’s a compliment to Brian Orser’s gifted Korean skater, Yu-Na Kim, who leads the ISU Four Continents championship heading into Friday’s women’s long program at Pacific Coliseum, that the same debate now looms over the spelling and order of her name.

With the 2010 Olympics but a year away, and the 18-year-old firmly established as a potential queen of women’s figure skating, even the smallest details are important, and a name is no small detail.

So … is it Yu-Na Kim, as it appears on ISU start lists, results sheets and biographical data? Or is it, as one translator of Korean insists, Kim Yeon Ah? Or something in between?  [Vancouver Sun]

Technically in Korean her name is Kim Yu-na as her translator states, because Koreans put there last name first.  However, I assume the western name of Yu-na Kim is probably what will stick.

The Vancouver Sun article also has a pretty interesting look at Kim’s rise in figure skating:

Other than that, the 47-year-old former world champion didn’t catch much of a break when he agreed, after demurring for a year, to teach this charming, elegant kid, who simply showed up on his doorstep at the Toronto Cricket Club three years ago, moved to Toronto with her mother and physical therapist, and kept after him to coach her.

He refused, at first, because he was still skating, and had touring commitments. But retirement was made easier by the chance to work with this uncut gem.

They, and highly-regarded choreographer David Wilson, who worked with Kim before Orser did, make an impressive team.

She’s out there performing her little miracles of athleticism and artistry and Wilson’s magic, while Orser, powerless to help, stands behind the boards miming every movement as if he can somehow will her to perform each element.  (……)

“Wherever we go in the world, she is embraced,” Orser said. “But in Korea, they adore her. She’s mobbed there, everywhere she goes. Because she’s the first. There’ll never be another first Korean skater to win an ISU medal.   (…….)

For now, Kim’s English is improving, and Orser’s Korean consists of “thank you” and “hurry up” and a couple of other handy coaching-type phrases. They have become comfortable with one another.

“It’s a fine line between friend, coach, mentor …,” said Orser.

When they arrive here together in 12 months, 22 years will have passed since Calgary. It would be a nice story if Kim — a rose by any other name — could win for herself, and her coach, the gold medal that eluded him so narrowly, a generation ago.

The next Winter Olympics should be exciting as Kim will be up against her biggest rival Japanese skater Mao Asada.