Kim Yu-na, the nation's star figure skater, will not compete in the Four Continents Figure Skating Championships later this month due to a hip injury.

According to the Korea Skating Union, Kim made the decision after undergoing examination at a hospital in Canada, where she was training at the time. The skater had been experiencing pain in her hip joints.

The examination uncovered an injury of Kim's left sacroiliac joint. This injury is common among athletes who do not have strong waists.

The star skater is the darling of South Korean figure skating and holds two consecutive ISU Grand Prix titles from last year and 2006.