From 8–10 March 2013, she competed at the 2013 World Championships held in Debrecen, Hungary, winning her first world championship in the 3000-metre super final. She won a silver medal, taking second behind fellow South Korean skater Park Seung-hi in the 1500 metres. Because of her wins, she became the overall bronze medalist, behind silver medalist Park Seung-hi and Wang Meng, who became a three-time overall world champion.