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PyeongChang Special Section #1

Peace Olympics

The opening ceremony for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, is a few days away. Korea, hosting the Olympics for the first time in 30 years, is hoping to hold an Olympics of Peace. (POCOG)

PyeongChang, a milestone toward peace

by Lee Hana

President Moon and athletes: President Moon Jae-in offers words of encouragement to members of the Korean women’s ice hockey team during his visit to the Jincheon National Training Center on Jan. 17.

(Cheong Wa Dae)

“ Peace during the Olympic Games, peace on the Korean Peninsula and peace around the world. Korea is a shining light for democracy and peace across Northeast Asia, and these Winter Games will truly be ‘Peace Olympics.’ ”

Even before his inauguration, Korean President Moon Jae-in has been advocating the launch of an “Olympics of Peace” on the Korean Peninsula.

As a presidential candidate, he expressed his belief that North Korea’s participation in the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games would set in motion a series of peace-filled initiatives that would help improve inter-Korean relations.

Even during his days as the leader of the Minjoo Party, Moon was resolute about the need to highlight peace in the Winter Games.

During his visit to Gangwon-do Province on Jan. 25, 2017, the backdrop for this year’s PyeongChang Olympics, Moon stressed that North Korea’s participation in the Games would be the first step toward easing tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang.

“We could hold a special ceremony at North Korea’s Geumgangsan Mountain, not far from our Olympic host cities, on the eve of the launch of the PyeongChang Games. Such an initiative would surely transform Gangwon-do Province into a special self-governing province for peace,” he said.

A few months later, on May 10, Moon Jae-in was sworn in to serve in the 19th presidential term of the Republic of Korea.

Just four days into his presidency, President Moon’s policies on North Korea were met with a striking challenge. On May 14, North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the East Sea. Moon, who had come into office with a proactive engagement policy toward North Korea, combining

dialogue with a strong dose of sanctions, faced a rocky road ahead.

The months that followed saw Pyongyang carry out a number of ballistic missile and nuclear weapons tests. Such provocations were strongly condemned by the U.S. and the international community. As tensions escalated, stronger sanctions were imposed on the Northern regime.

Despite this, President Moon didn’t give up his peace agenda nor his hopes for dialogue. While in Germany for the 2017 G20 Hamburg summit, he unveiled his peace initiative for the Korean Peninsula at Berlin’s Old City Hall on July 6.

At the same historic spot where the German Unification Treaty was negotiated in 1990, President Moon outlined the direction he would take in dissolving the Cold War structure and in establishing lasting peace.

With this, the president pointed to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, guaranteeing security, and a comprehensive approach to uprooting the nuclear weapons issue, starting with dialogue.

Furthermore, he outlined additional measures, such as making the PyeongChang Winter Games an Olympics of Peace with the active participation of the North, halting acts of hostility along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), and starting an interKorean dialogue between the two Koreas.

In the North, the development of ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons forged onward. In response, the U.N. Security Council condemned North Korea’s actions and threats, demanding Pyongyang abandon all its nuclear weapons programs.

Amidst added pressures, the South Korean

government resolutely urged for both dialogue and sanctions.

On Sept. 21, 2017, President Moon delivered a speech before the 72nd U.N. General Assembly wherein he talked about Seoul’s inter-Korean policies, which emphasize peace and diplomacy.

Urging North Korea to come forward for dialogue, the president stressed that the PyeongChang Winter Games were an opportunity for Northeast Asia to boost cooperation and to take a turn toward peace.

“I’m filled with joy when I imagine North Korean athletes entering the stadium during the Opening Ceremony, cheered on by inter-Korean supporters and by the world at large. To turn this dream into a reality, I will work with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in every way possible,” he said.

With the dawn of the new year, North Korea finally responded to its southern neighbor’s persistent proposals for peaceful diplomacy.

In a New Year’s speech broadcast on Jan. 1, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared his wish for a “peaceful resolution with our southern border” and offered talks about sending a delegation to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month.

In response, President Moon expressed said that he was pleased that North Korea had accepted the South’s offer to turn the PyeongChang Winter Games into a launch pad for better inter-Korean relations.

On Jan. 2, the Korean government made a formal proposal to hold high-level talks with North Korea at the Panmunjom truce village on Jan. 9. As a result, the communications channel at the border village of Panmunjom was reopened for the first time in over two years.

Meanwhile on Jan. 5, President Moon and U.S.

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PyeongChang, a milestone toward peace

A turning point in tech history

PyeongChang, beyond sports

Special firsts to see

High-tech to help enjoy the PyeongChang Olympics

Cultural heritage, tradition, arts complete the Olympics

New Olympic sports in PyeongChang

For peace on the Korean Peninsula Publisher: Korean Culture and Information Service Newsletter February 2018

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President Donald Trump agreed to temporarily halt U.S.-Korea joint military drills during the PyeongChang Winter Games. Moreover, Trump wished for a fruitful outcome to the high-level talks between the two Koreas, saying, “The U.S. is behind President Moon 100 percent.”

Later that day, North Korea accepted the proposal for high-level talks between the two Koreas.

After North Korea accepted the invitation to talk to South Korea in high-level talks, Cheong Wa Dae released a statement saying, “Pyongyang’s participation in the PyeongChang Olympics is the number one priority.”

It further stressed that North Korea’s participation in the Olympics needs to be confirmed before the two sides can begin dialogue about improving interKorean relations, among other related issues.

Amidst much speculation, the high-level talks between the two Koreas took place last on Jan. 9, with encouraging developments.

First, it was agreed upon that North Korean athletes, Olympic Committee members, and cheering squads would all participate in the PyeongChang Winter Games.

The two Koreas then held working-level talks at the in Panmunjom truce village on Jan. 17, and agreed to march together in the Opening Ceremony under the Korean unification flag.

A few days later, on Jan. 20, the IOC announced the Olympic Korean Peninsula Declaration, which grants accreditation to North Korea to participate in the PyeongChang Games. As such, PyeongChang will welcome 22 North Korean athletes in events covering ice hockey, figure skating, short track speed skating, cross-country skiing and alpine skiing.

Furthermore, the two Korean Olympic committees agreed to form a single women’s ice hockey team, comprised of both South and North Korean players.

The combined team will wear the Korean unification flag, and will use the folk song “Arirang” as its anthem.

At PyeongChang, cooperation between the two Koreas will extend beyond the sports arena.

North Korea has agreed to send its 140-member Samjiyon Orchestra to perform in Seoul and Gangneung in celebration of the Olympics. The performance troupe will stage a show at the Gangneung Arts Center on Feb. 8, one day before the PyeongChang Opening Ceremony, and another at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul on Feb. 11.

These agreements between the two Koreas, realized under the auspices of the PyeongChang Winter Games, is are a journey towards the an Olympics of Peace.

In confirming North Korea’s participation, IOC President Thomas Bach said, that “The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games will show us what the world could look like if we were guided by the Olympic spirit of respect, dialogue and understanding. This is the Olympic message that will go from PyeongChang to the world.”

In true Olympic spirit, the hope is for PyeongChang to shine as a symbol of peace, and for this peace to radiate across the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and the world in the days, months, and years to come. hlee10@korea.kr

Passion. Connected.

PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games

Passion beyond the limits.

Watch the excitement unfold.

PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games When : March 9 to 18, 2018 Where : Pyeongchang, Gangneung and Jeongseon, all in Gangwon-do Province, South Korea

Team Korea's PyeongChang Para Ice Hockey Star

Jung Seung-hwan

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President & CEO Lee Hee-Beom, POCOG

Letter from PyeongChang With just ten days to go our vision of New Horizons is almost a reality.

We are ready to welcome the world and deliver the biggest and most connected Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games that the world has ever seen.

When we set out on this journey six years ago we had five key objectives: to be a Games that is cultural, environmental, technological, economic and one of peace. I believe we will achieve all of them successfully, creating lasting memories and a legacy for the local community, the country and the region as a whole. As only the second Asian host of the Winter Games, we are very proud to have created an event that will be filled with our rich Korean culture. From traditional dance and design, to modern music and our famous cuisine, everyone who comes to experience PyeongChang 2018 will not only experience world class winter sport, they will experience our country and all that we have to offer.

We are excited to be the most technologically advanced Games yet and this will be seen from the moment you arrive at Incheon International Airport with robotic assistance at departures, to 5G operating across Games venues and Omni Point View on the Games app.

As the Olympic Flame has travelled the length and breadth of our country since the 100 days to go milestone, we have witnessed a growth in excitement and engagement from the Korean public towards the Games. This has been reflected in the steady growth in ticket sales. Being able to see the Torch – and for many the chance to carry it – is an important first memory and experience of the Games and we hope this has inspired many to travel to PyeongChang in February and March to experience the Games for real.

The Paralympic Winter Games will keep the passion and excitement of PyeongChang 2018 driving into March and beyond. With ten days of action across six sports and 80 events, we will welcome approximately 670 athletes in what will be the largest number of Paralympic Winter Games competitors ever. We believe that the legacy from this event will be significant in the local area as they work hard to drive awareness and access to disability sport. We hope to see many future Paralympic Champions coming from the Gangwon Province and Korea in the years to come.

The slogan of our Olympic and Paralympic Winter Olympic Games is ‘Passion Connected’.

Over the next few weeks we want everyone to feel and share the passion of the athletes, spectators, staff and volunteers; and to connect with the world’s greatest winter sports spectacle whether watching live in the venues or enjoying the action from another country on one of the many devices and channels we have at our fingertips today.

The flame is nearing PyeongChang, and on February 9th when it is placed into the cauldron, the world’s eyes will be on our nation with anticipation and excitement. PyeongChang 2018 will create lasting memories for us all and new horizons for generations to come.

A visitor tries out some VR ski jumping at the PyeongChang 2018 media center. (MSIT)

A turning point in tech history

by Xu Aiying and Sohn JiAe

Information and communications technologies have grown and evolved on par with the Olympic Games over the past many years.

Korea, host country of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games this February, will show off its high-tech prowess at the world’s biggest sporting competition, turning into an “IT Olympics” with leading cuttingedge technologies that will help expansion of the popularity of winter sports around the world.

A future that the world has so far only envisioned or imagined will unfold in reality at the PyeongChang Games.

Ever faster, with 5G networks The 5G mobile networks available at the PyeongChang Games, a first in Olympic history, will allow people to enjoy faster data transmission on their smart phones, with connection speeds fast enough to download a 1 GB movie in less than 10 seconds.

Some of the 5G technologies on offer include the “Sync View” service, mainly used in ski jumping and bobsledding, which will broadcast the events as seen through the eyes of the athletes.

This realistic broadcasting service uses ultra-small wireless cameras attached to the athletes’uniforms. Viewers will be able to feel the titillating thrill of the race, as if they were really flying from the launch pad or racing through the tunnels of snow and ice.

The 5G-powered “Point View” broadcasting technology, used in competitions with larger groups of athletes like cross-country skiing, will give viewers the chance to watch their favorite athletes by selecting a certain point of view from along the course.

A 5G-equipped bus will run across the Olympic city of Pyeongchang in Gangwondo Province and across other areas during the Olympic season.

The driverless bus, converted from a 45-passenger bus, is equipped with a semitransparent display on the windows that allows travelers to see their current whereabouts, speed and certain Olympic events through live-image holograms.

Ever clearer, with UHD broadcasts Major Olympic games will be live-streamed in 4K UHD, a format with greater resolution than full HD, giving audiences a clearer and more realistic viewing experience.

The official Opening and Closing ceremonies, along with the speed skating and ice hockey events, will be broadcasted in 4K UHD. Viewers will be able to watch every fine detail, such as the athlete’s tense muscles, beads of sweat or scattering snow.

You can also check out this technology at the PyeongChang ICT Pavilion and on a 15-meter ultra wide vision (UWV) screen installed at Incheon International Airport when you arrive in Korea.

Ever easier, with IoT connectivity Mobile apps based on the Internet of Things (IoT) will guide Olympians and first-time visitors from around the world to safely find their way from the airport to their destination. Such navigation tech can be useful at Olympic venues, too, when users type in their seat number on the app. They need to follow the blue arrow displayed on their screen and then they can find their seat. A smart mobile wristband not only provides basic information about event times and a daily weather report, but also allows wearers to easily pay at certain accommodations or food trucks, and to use the card reader on the bus.

IoT and big data will also be used to improve the athletes’ performance by tracking their pulse and brainwaves and offering customized health care, all while monitoring their training regimens.

Ever smarter, with AI Non-Korean Olympic tourists will be greeted by a new AI-powered interpreter and translator.

The official mobile translation app GenieTalk will offer translation and interpretation services in nine languages ‒ Korean, English, Mandarin or Simplified Chinese, Japanese, French, Spanish, German, Russian and Arabic ‒ alongside voice recognition features. An “AI Hotline” will be in operation, too. A robot will pick up your call and give you information in either Korean or English concerning game schedules, venue locations, transportation and shuttle buses.

A total of 85 robots, of 11 different types, will move throughout the venues, press centers, athlete’s villages and airports to meet non-Koreans’ needs. A robot modeled after Soohorang, the mascot for the PyeongChang Olympic Games, will autonomously step forward to interpret and, more surprisingly, even dance to music and put on a smile for its viewers.

Ever more enjoyable, with VR For those who aren’t able to visit Korea for the Olympics this time, the organizing committee has scheduled live VR broadcasts of some of the major events. For example, more than 100 cameras will be installed at the figure skating venue to give viewers around the world the chance to see the competitions in VR from all angles. Audiences will be able to enjoy a realistic and immersive experience viewing the skaters’ breathtaking jumps and their every facial expression, all on their own mobile devices.

Finally, at the PyeongChang ICT Pavilion, visitors can experience the thrill of some of the more popular winter sports, like ski jumping, snowboarading and bobsledding, all in high-resolution VR. The “VR Drone Racing Competition” will give participants a chance to race a drone themselves and use VR gear to watch the images captured by the flying devices. xuaiy@korea.kr

PyeongChang Special Section #1

venue for speed skating, curling, ice hockey, figure skating and short-track speed skating, will entertain spectators with a variety of cultural events, too.

Outdoor entertainment at the park includes a flash mob, a pantomime show, acappella singing and a traditional percussion folk music performance. The indoor Gangneung Arts Center will have some of Korea’s representative dancing and singing troupes on stage, including the Korean National Ballet, the Korean National Contemporary Dance Company and the National Chorus of Korea.

Korea’s most-lauded classical musicians, such as cellist Chung Myung-wha and pianist Son Yeol-eum, will collaborate with counterparts from Russia, the host of the 2014 Winter Olympics, at the PyeongChang Winter Music Festival.

The wonderful work of media art, “Relay”, by the duo team Mioon¸ shines upon Seoul Square in Seoul as a media art exhibition for young Korean media artists takes place in honor of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. (MCST)

PyeongChang, beyond sports Cultural heritage, tradition, arts complete Olympic Games

by Sohn JiAe

“The host province of Gangwondo is a winter vacation heaven, with tons to do both on and off the slopes. Check out the delicious cuisine, the art exhibits and performances, and a wide range of local festivals.”

The Olympic Games are a global sporting festival that brings together athletes and sports fans from around the world.

The Games pit representative athletes from around the world against each other and send sports aficionados into cries and cheers for their favorite Olympians. The Olympic Games, however, are about more than just sports.

The Games can only be completed when they r̓ e met with epic shows of cultural legacies, traditions, history and art from the region, showing the host country in a favorable light. South Korea is now host of the 2018 Winter Games, exactly three decades since it hosted the Seoul 1988 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In light of this, Korea

has pulled out all the stops to make the upcoming sporting festival a so-called “Cultural Olympiad,” an event that can offer visitors from around the world some of the best-ever unforgettable experiences and give them access to some of the nation’s greatest cultural assets.“The Olympic Games are no longer what they used to be, merely a sporting event,” said Second Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Roh Tae-kang.

“They’ve turned into an event that shows the overall capacity of that particular country and its people, coupled with their cultural heritage and an IT industry of their own. Hopefully, February’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will allow the global community to enjoy our cultural capacity,” the vice minister said.

On Feb. 8, the “Cultural Olympiad” will kick off across the three host cities in Gangwon-do Province: Pyeongchang-gun County, Gangneungsi and Jeongseon-gun County. The three cities will host multiplatform showcases for visitors from around the world, as well as for Korea’s own citizens, showing off Korea’s arts, heritage, entertainment industry and educational system.

Before and throughout the Olympic and

Paralympic Games, global sports fans will be served with cultural events of various genres, from opera, jazz, modern dance and musicals, all the way through to media art, modern and contemporary art and traditional folk games.

Hidden treasures of Korea, found in festivals, performances.

The 2018 PyeongChang Cultural Olympiad will begin with a magnificent opening ceremony in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do Province, on Feb. 2, just seven days ahead of the official PyeongChang Games Opening Ceremony. It will be studded with outstanding domestic performers, alongside the declaration of its opening. Afterward, a series of performances will ensue over the following days, including “Cheonnyeonhyang,” a non-verbal show that tells the story of the host cities’scenic landscapes and the people who live there through dance moves coupled with advanced conversion technologies. There will also be the “DMZ Art Festa 2018” that turns the nation’s wish for peace into performances, music and exhibitions, as Korea’s one of the few remaining divided countries in the world. The Gangneung Olympic Park, the

Exhibits, hands-on programs bring Gangwon nature, arts and peace to the world The special “Cheongsan-byeolgok” media art show will be held around the Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum in Gangneung-si. It will welcome visitors to an artistic world that unfolds in the mist of the forest, where visitors can see the trees and the paths turn into a whole new winter wonderland, transformed with the media arts.

The PyeongChang Olympic Plaza, the venue for both the official Opening and Closing ceremonies, will showcase works of art by some of Korea’s most famous modern and contemporary artists, from across painting, sculpture, installment art and media art. Artists such as Nam June Paik, Lee Jung-seob and Kim Whanki, and others, will be featured in a special exhibition called “Highlights of Modern Korean Arts.” The plaza will also run the PyeongChang ICT Pavilion that will allow visitors to explore five core technologies, as well as humanoid robots that will be used at Olympic venues. The five technologies are: fifth generation mobile networks (5G), the Internet of Things (IoT), ultra high definition broadcasts (UHD), artificial intelligence(AI) and virtual reality (VR).

A special exhibition at the Gangneung Arts Center will feature modern versions of paintings, visual art sculptures, and installation works by artists from Gangwon-do Province. In Jeongseon-gun County, home to particularly famous version of the folk song “Arirang,” there will be a collaboration among artists from Korea and the next two Olympic host countries ‒ China and Japan ‒ so as to send to the world a message of peace and unity through performances and conferences. Note that only Olympic ticket holders with tickets for that exact day can enjoy the cultural programs free of charge at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza and the Gangneung Olympic Park. The Oxford Dictionary defines “culture” as “the customs and beliefs, art, way of life, social organization and attitudes of a particular country.” Well, next February in Korea, historic Olympic moments of Korean “culture” will take place all across Gangwon-do Province.

Hopefully, the story will reach other people, too, regardless of where they are or where they live, touching them deeply with Korea’s deep-rooted cultural legacies, legacies that will come to life in the form of festivals, performances and exhibits during the PyeongChang Games. jiae5853@korea.kr

Medals show Korean heritage, nature

by Hur SomEe and Kim Young Shin

The medals that will be presented to the winners at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games are designed using Hangeul Korean letters and feature elements taken from traditional Hanbok attire. The medals are inscribed with 13 Hangeul Korean consonants: ㅍ, ㅇ, ㅊ, ㅇ, ㄷ, ㅇ, ㄱ, ㅇ, ㄹ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅍ and ㄱ.

Those spell out the words “PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games” in Korean. The Olympic

flag on the face is blazoned with diagonal lines that depict the endeavor and patience of the athletes, making it look as if the 13 consonants are zipping across the disc. On the back are the PyeongChang Olympic emblem and the name of the sporting event.

The medals for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games are blazoned with horizontal lines that emphasize equality, the spirit of the Games.

The pattern on the face represents the clouds, mountains, trees and wind of Pyeongchang-gun County, the main host city. An agito, the symbol

of the Paralympic Games, and the name of the sporting event are also marked on the medal.

The circular edge of the medal are engraved with the Hangeul letters ㅍ, ㅇ, ㅊ, ㅇ, ㄷ, ㅇ, ㄱ, ㅍ, ㄹ, ㄹ, ㄹ, ㅁ, ㅍ, ㄱ, ㅇ, ㄱ, ㅇ, ㅇ, ㄹ, ㅍ and ㄹ. These are the consonants of the words “PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games” in Korean. The neck ribbon is made of fine gauze used for traditional Korean Hanbok attire.

Snowflakes made of Hangeul letters are embroidered on the strap. sehp91@korea.kr

(POCOG)

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Athletes to watch

by Yoon Sojung

“Athletes both famous and not-yet-famous are coming to Pyeongchang for the Games.

From all over the world, they’ll be doing their best and showing true Olympic spirit in their quests for gold.”

Snowboard big air is one of the six new events that will be added to the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. (POCOG) (Top) The Nigerian women’s bobsleigh team will become the first African team to enter the Winter Olympics.

(Seun Adigun’s instagram) (Bottom)

Special Firsts to see

In all Olympic Games, many star athletes are born and then are sometimes gone.

An unknown athlete can have a meteoric rise on the sports scene while at the same time well-known stars can vanish.

At the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, there will be many star athletes participating. The Games will also have some dark horse athletes and some winter sports rookies.

Among them, the most successful female ski racer in history, Lindsey Vonn of the U.S., is one of the top athletes who’s expected to shine at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Actively serving as an honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vonn expressed her will to retire by saying that PyeongChang will be her last Olympics.

In interviews with CNN and other media outlets last year, Vonn said that she would go for the gold in Pyeongchang in memory of her grandfather. Her g r a n d f a t h e r, who was

by Yoon Sojung

Many firsts can be discovered at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Among the firsts at the upcoming sporting event will be new participating countries at the Winter Games. The Nigerian women’s bobsleigh team has been under the media spotlight as it’s entering the Winter Olympics as the first African country to ever do so.

As the first African team, men or women, to qualify in the bobsled, the Nigerian women’s bobsleigh team has been training since 2014. The team is led by Seun Adigun, a former Olympic track and field athlete, who formed the team with her colleagues Akuoma Omeoga and Ngozi Onwumere. In November last year, the team qualified in the two-person women’s bobsleigh by coming in 13th place at the International Bobsleigh Skeleton Federation (IBSF) North American Cup in Calgary, Canada.

They had some difficulties in the beginning, as they had to raise money via crowd funding for their expenses, including purchasing equipment and buying tickets. Thankfully, however, Team Visa, which provides funding and equipment for promising athletes at the Olympic or Paralympic Games, offered support for the team so that they have been able to make their way to the PyeongChang Games. They have been under the media spotlight as the team has been making bobsleigh history in Africa. Media outlets, including CNN and the BBC, have dubbed them the “Nigerian version of Cool Running.”

In alpine ski, Sabrina Simader, the first woman ski racer from Kenya, has received a lot of media attention, too. In September last year, Simader was named as the “African Sports Women in Europe of the year 2017” by the African Women in Europe organization.

In the short track, Maame Biney of the U.S. will be the first African-American woman athlete to 04

make the U.S. Olympic short track speed skating team. Biney ranked at the top of the woman’s 500 m races at the Olympic Trials in Salt Lake City on Dec. 17, 2017. Biney has been trained by Korean coach Kim Yun-mi, gold medalist in the woman’s short track 3,000 m relay at the 1994 Lillehammer and the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

Singapore, another country with no snow, is also a newcomer at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Cheyenne Goh earned a ticket to the PyeongChang Games in the woman’s short track 1,500 m race, according to an announcement by the International Skating Union (ISU) on Nov. 24, 2017.

Other first-comers to the Games include Shannon-Ogbani Abeda from Eritrea, Besnik Sokoli from Kosovo, and Jeffrey Webb from Malaysia.

These athletes will all make their debut for their home country at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Firsts can also be found in the new events that will be introduced at the PyeongChang Games.

Six new events will be added this year. There will be snowboard big air, both men’s and women’s, speed skating mass start, men’s and women’s, curling mixed doubles and the alpine team event. Snowboard big air is an event where the competitor rides a snowboard down a hill and performs tricks after launching off very large jumps. Speed skating mass start is an event where a maximum of 28 skaters will race for 16 laps around an open racing track without any inner or outer lanes for particular athletes.

Winners of these newly-added events will also earn the title “the first Olympic event gold medalist.”

Finally, this is also the first Winter Olympics where the number of gold medals on offer is in the triple-digits. The total number of gold medals will be 102, four more than were available at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, according to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Organizing Committee. arete@korea.kr

stationed in South Korea during the Korean War, passed away in November last year.

Lindsey Vonn won the 2017 FIS Ski World Cup in Val d’Isère in France on Dec. 17, 2017, securing her 78th World Cup win. She has been ranked No. 1 in the world, making her way to the gold.

For Team Korea, speed skater Lee Sanghwa is one of the most anticipated gold medalists.

Lee won the gold in the woman’s 500 m in the past two Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Sochi. If Lee wins gold at the PyeongChang Winter Games as well, she will become first Korea athlete to ever win gold medals in three consecutive Winter Olympics.

According to an ISU announcement in December, Lee will participate in the woman’s 500 m and 1,000 m as well.

One of the most anticipated super rookies at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will be snowboarder Chloe Kim from the U.S. The young American began snowboarding when she was four.

Kim garnered her fifth World Cup win in the woman’s halfpipe final at the FIS Snowboard World Cup Toyota U.S. Grand Prix in Copper Mountain, Colorado, on Dec. 10, 2017. In February 2016, she became the first female snowboarder to be awarded a perfect 100 score after successfully performing the first ever back-to-back “1080” move in a superpipe competition at the U.S. Grand Prix in Park City, Utah.

Moving on to the sledding events, Yun Sung-bin of Korea is the skeleton super rookie to watch.

On Jan. 5, Yun won a gold medal in the men’s skeleton at the BMW IBSF World Cup in Altenberg, Germany, securing his fourth world cup win in the 2017-2018 season.

Without receiving any advantage from the Olympic venue, Yun has been writing a new history in Korean skeleton, despite the lack of infrastructure to train on sledding disciplines in Korea.

Even if you’re not interested in skeleton, it may be worth it to see Yun’s pursuit for gold at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Will the PyeongChang Games allow star athletes to maintain their reputations? Or will it let new faces shine? We will see. arete@korea.kr Korean skeleton racer Yun Sung-bin

(KOREA.net)

Korean speed skater Lee Sang-hwa (POCOG)

PyeongChang Special Section #1

The Olympic torch for the PyeongChang Winter Games is lit in Greece on Oct. 24, 2017. (POCOG) (Left) At a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the Pyeongchang athletes’dormitories, officials release dove-shaped balloons into the sky as symbols of peace, in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on Fab. 1. (POCOG) (Right)

From inception to launch

by Min Yea-Ji and Lee Hana

It all started on July 6, 2011, in Durban, South Africa. When Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), uttered the word “Pyeongchang!” at the announcement ceremony, the Korean team erupted into cheers.

As the good news flew from Durban, the entire nation of Korea shared in the excitement.

For the very first time, Korea’s small alpine city of Pyeongchang—a little known locale most IOC officials often confuse with the North Korean capital of Pyongyang—stood tall on the international stage.

Pyeongchang’s bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics was not easily earned. After successfully hosting the 1999 Asian Winter Games, Pyeongchang announced it had its eye on the 2010 Winter Olympics. Pyeongchang received the largest number of votes in the first round, but the second and final round saw it losing the bid to Vancouver by a mere three votes. In spite of the setback, Korea held tight to its dream of hosting the Winter Games. With the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics safe in its memory, Korea once again tried to win the 2014 Winter Olympics. Once more, Pyeongchang secured the number one place in the first voting round, but it lost in the second round, this time to Sochi, Russia, by four votes.

Limitations to Korea’s diplomatic reach in the international sporting world, as well as a lack of information about Pyeongchang and a weak winter sports scene, were cited as reasons for the loss. After two losses, Pyeongchang took the feedback it received from the IOC and began improving its infrastructure. It built a cluster of stadiums, all no more than 30 minutes away from each other, and it made sure that 90 percent of the athletes, housed in dormitories, could reach the race venues within 10 minutes.

From 2004 through to 2010, students from countries that don’t get much snow were invited to Pyeongchang to give them a chance to experience winter sports. It completed seven of the 13 stadiums required by the IOC. All of these changes, accompanied by the support of over 90 percent of Korean voters, were enough to convince the IOC that, this time, Pyeongchang was ready.

As they say, the third time’s a charm. When Pyeongchang entered a bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, with the ambition of transforming Northeast Asia into a new destination for winter

sports, the dream was finally realized.

Thanks to the many years spent in preparation, Pyeongchang was off to a good start. Major venues like the Alpensia Ski Jumping Center, the Cross-Country Center and the Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, as well as the Gangneung Ice Arena, had already hosted several international qualifying events in 2017, garnering favorable reviews from the athletes.

In addition to the sporting venues, the Olympic Villages for the athletes in both Pyeongchang and Gangneung were completed; as are the highways and railroads connecting the three host cities to Seoul. Two of the highways have brought down travel time from the regions to Seoul within half a day. The KTX Gyeonggang Line, a high-speed train that takes just an hour and 54 minutes to connect Seoul and Gangneung, saw its maiden voyage on Dec. 22.

Incheon International Airport’s second passenger terminal will also officially open ahead of the PyeongChang Games.

Over 30 years since the Seoul 1988 Summer Olympics, the Olympic torch arrived in Korea last Nov. 1 and has since been making its way across the peninsula. On Jan. 21, it will finally arrive in Gangwon-do Province, and it will illuminate the city of Pyeongchang on Feb. 9.

As the Korean peninsula eagerly anticipated the PyeongChang Games, there have been some obstacles that dampened the mood.

Beyond the northern border, North Korea’s missile and nuclear weapons provocations raised global concerns about the safety of participants in the Olympics in Korea.

However, with the inauguration of President Moon Jae-in last May 2017, the new administration found its footing once more, and preparations for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics were finally back on track. Further improving matters have been the recently held high-level talks last January 9 among the two Koreas. The event ushered in encouraging developments, the most positive of which has been the announcement that North Korea will be sending a delegation to the PyeongChang Olympics, thus realizing the possibility of an “Olympics of Peace” taking place in the Korean Peninsula.

Just as 30 years ago the 1988 Seoul Olympics were the “Peace Olympics” that signaled the end of the Cold War, so, too, for both the two Koreas and for the world, the PyeongChang Winter Olympics lie before us as a symbol of peace. jesimin@korea.kr

Cool Winter Olympic Merchandise to Check out

by Kim Young Shin

PyeongChang 2018 official goods, from long padded coats to “finger heart” gloves, have been very popular since their release.

The opening of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is just around the corner, but some of the official goods are already sold out. Although many of the products are outof-stock now, they’ll be restocked in late January, except for the long padded coats, umbrellas and handy fans.

One of the most popular products is the long padded PyeongChang coats. Launched on Oct. 24, the coats were sold out in two weeks at both the offline and online stores. It was the first product in the PyeongChang store to be out-of-stock.

The coats, available in black, gray and white, are popular because of the reasonable price for a goose down full-length coat, around KRW 149,000/ $140. It’s winter wear that keeps the body super warm for many years to come.

Long queues outside the official PyeongChang merchandise stores at the official shops in Seoul, Busan and Daegu snaked around the building on the last day of the jacket’s release on Nov. 30. The stores even had to limit purchases to one coat per person.

Inside the Games, an online news outlet dedicated to the Olympic and Paralympic Games, even wrote an article titled “Pyeongchang 2018 Padded Coat Proves far More Popular Than Tickets.”

Also available are sets of “finger heart” gloves, available in navy blue, pink and gray, and they’re flying off the shelves. The red tips of the index

finger and the thumb create a heart shape when held together, a popular gesture to show affection or cuteness.

On sale are also items featuring the two official mascots of the Games, Soohorang the white tiger and Bandabi the Asiatic black bear. One of the hottest mascot items is the Soohorang plush toy. The white tiger comes dressed in traditional Hanbok attire for both a bride and a groom. Many more products, ranging from sweatshirts to snow globes, are also available featuring Soohorang or Bandabi. Traditional Korean motifs and patterns are featured on many other Olympic goods. There are placemats and table settings embroidered with traditional Korean paintings, and fan-like bookmarks inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

With the growing demand for PyeongChang Olympic products, counterfeits of some of the more popular products, like the padded coats, have been reported. To protect yourself and to guarantee that you get official PyeongChang Olympic merchandise, make sure to purchase your items at the official online shop, pyeongchangolympics2018. com, or at one of the 29 PyeongChang Merchandise stores at major tourist spots across Korea.

You can also get your Olympic swag at Olympic venues during the Winter Games. More details about the products and stores are available at the PyeongChang2018 Official Online Store. ysk1111@korea.kr

(POCOG)

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Gangwon invites you to its winter festivals

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The photos show the winners of the Gangwon Tourism Award.

(1~4)

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Hoarfroast on trees in Taegi mountain. (Park In-suk)

The snowscape at the Daegwallyeong Sheep Farm stands out as one of the most beautiful spots in Gangwon-do during the winter. (Kim Tae-sun)

Cleaning snow off Hwangtae-deokjang A snowy day in Daegeumgul Cave. (Kim Seung-suk) yelow pollack drying area. (Heo Yoon-gu)

by Kim Young Deok and Yoon Sojung

Pyeongchang, Gangneung and Jeongseon, all in Gangwon-do Province, are the venues for next month’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. They will host a variety of festivals to help visitors fully enjoy the winter wonderland this year.

From ice fishing and ice sculptures to parades of local hunters wearing traditional clothes and using traditional hunting method-oligies, tourists can have fun in the winter in Gangwon-do.

Here’s a quick guide to the winter festivals that’ll help you fully enjoy all the things to see and do, and to have a truly unique experience in Gangwon.

Sancheoneo Ice Festival Hwacheon-gun County, Jan. 6 to 28 The Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival is one of the best-known winter festivals in Korea.

Approximately 1 million people visit the annual event. A lot of media outlets have featured the iconic ice fishing that takes place at the festival, where people make more than 10,000 holes in the ice - ice as thick as 30 cm/ 12 inches - in order to

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catch the fish underneath.

At the festival, there’s a special designated spot to cook your catch, where people can enjoy the roasted or raw meat of the fish. The fish, a type of mountain trout called a sancheoneo in Korean, has a light flavor and is really nutritious. Eating sliced raw trout is also a good way to enjoy the fish, as it doesn’t have that odd earthy smell that other freshwa-ter fish sometimes have. For people who prefer more exciting activities, or for those who get bored while waiting for a bite, the festival also has a special program where people can catch a fish with their bare hands.

There’s also a night fishing program where people can catch fish at night under bright lights.

Also, many tourists find it interesting to catch a fish while watching the fish swim through the ice Pyeongchang Trout Festival Pyeongchang-gun County, Dec. 22 to Feb. 25 The Pyeongchang Trout Festival began on Dec. 22 last year.

Festival-goers can have fun catching trout

from the solid-frozen Odaecheon Stream in Pyeongchang-gun County.

Set up your fishing pole, drop the bait through the hole cut in the ice and you’re sure to get a bite.

It costs KRW 3,000 (about $3) to have your catch gutted and cooked for you there on the spot. People enjoy roasting their catch, or even eating it raw.

Visitors can also have fun skating or sledding.

They can try riding a traditional sled or an “ice bicycle” across the frozen river, all of which can help them to better enjoy the festival without getting bored while fishing. For those who missed the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival in January, they can still catch the Pyeongchang Trout Festival that runs until late February.

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival Pyeongchang-gun County, Feb. 7 to 22 Visitors will be able to enjoy the harmony formed between snowflakes and ice when they visit the town of Daegwallyeong in Pyeongchanggun County.

This festival will feature various unique events

for all the tourists who will visit Korea for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. At the ice park ‒ shaped like the Olympic flag ‒ there will be large ice sculptures to greet the tourists. The ice sculptures will feature Soohorang and Bandabi, the mascots for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and some all-star athletes, too. Feeling hungry? Visit the roasting tent where you can enjoy some roasted potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn on the cob and other local produce harvested from across Gangwon. For some Korean food, go to the traditional Korean food tent where you can enjoy some other Korean dishes, as well as local specialties, such as a Korean set menu with fresh herbs, roasted yellow pollack, and a potato bowl.

You can visit Gangwon-do Province anytime of the year, as the region has different charms in each season. The region hosts festivals throughout the year where people can learn and experience Korean heritage and traditions, delicious food and learn a bit of history, too. kyd1991@korea.kr

A guide to your Olympic journey

By Kim Eun-young and Kim Young Shin

If you can’t wait to catch Olympic fever, hop on the non-stop high-speed KTX Gyeonggang train that will take you to the main host city from Incheon International Airport in just over two hours. The KTX Gyeonggang takes 2 hours, 6 minutes from the second passenger terminal at Incheon International Airport straight to Jinbu Station in Pyeongchang, and then onward to Gangneung Station. The train makes eight round trips every day, leaving Incheon three times in the morning and five times in the afternoon.

The earliest train leaves the airport at 10 a.m. The last train back to Incheon leaves Gangneung Station at 1:30 p.m. A one-way trip costs KRW 40,700/ $38.16 if you travel from Incheon to Gangneung, KRW 27,600/ $25.88 from Seoul Station to Gangneung, and KRW 26,000/ $24.38 from Cheongnyangni Station to Gangneung.

Phoenix Snow Park, the venue for the snowboarding and freestyle skiing, is the closest to Pyeongchang Station. The PyeongChang Olympic Stadium, the Olympic Sliding Centre, the Alpensia Biathlon, Cross- Country and Ski Jumping Centres, the Jeongseon Alpine Centre and the Yongpyong Alpine Centre are all closer to Jinbu Station. The 06

Gangneung Curling Centre, the Kwandong and Gangneung Hockey Centres, the Gangneung Ice Arena and the Gangneung Oval are all close to Gangneung Station. The KTX Gyeonggang highspeed train from the airport stops at 12 stations along the way, including Seoul and Cheongnyangni stations in the greater Seoul area. It reaches Pyeongchang, Jinbu and Gangneung stations all within three hours.

The train runs 51 times a day during the Olympics.

During the Paralympics, the train will run 22 times per day on weekdays and 30 times per day on weekends.

If you plan to stay in Seoul or the greater capital region during the Olympics, you should get a PyeongChang Korail Pass or a Korea Tour Card.

These are exclusive cards solely for international tourists. The PyeongChang Korail Pass comes as either a 5-day pass (KRW 168,000/ $157.53) or as a 7-day pass (KRW 195,000/ $182.84). This pass allows you to take Korail trains, including the KTX, without any limits during the Olympic period from Feb. 1 to March 25. The pass can be bought at the Korail website (https://www.letskorail.com). The Korea Tour Card is a transportation card that offers discounts on shopping and on public transport. If you’re accompanied by family or friends, renting a car might be a great option. Events such as the Daegwallyeong Snow Festival and the Pyeongchang Trout Festival

The KTX Gyeonggang high-speed train line takes just 2 hours and 6 minutes to connect Incheon International Airport and Gangneung. (Korea.net)

are held within 20 minutes of most Olympic venues.

Having a car would also allow you to enjoy more festivals and to taste more delicacies from across Gangwon-do Province.

You can rent a car on the first floor of Incheon International Airport from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. If you’re going to rent a car for one or two days, the cost is around KRW 100,000/ $93.75 for a compact car or KRW 160,000/ $150 for a midsized car. Please double check with your chosen rental company. To rent a car, you must have your passport and an international driver’s license. In the U.S., those are available from your local AAA office, or from the CAA in Canada.

You can make car reservations at the Lotte Rent-aCar website (https://www.lotterentacar.net) or at the AJ Rent-a-Car website (https://www.ajrentacar.co.kr). If

you’re driving from Seoul or the greater capital region, you can make your way along National Road No. 6 and No. 59, both brand new roads that opened on Dec. 27 specifically for the Olympic Games. It will take you 2 hours to get to the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium.

You can also take these routes to travel between the main Olympic venues and other attractions, most of which are within 30 minutes of the Olympic host cities.

There are a total of eight giant parking lots at the Olympic venues: two parking lots in Pyeongchang (in Jinbu and in Daegwallyeong), one in Bogwang (Bongpyeong), one in Jeongseon and four in Gangneung (North Gangneung, Gangneung Station, West Gangneung and Kwandong). eykim86@korea.kr

PyeongChang Special Section #1

Gangwon-do’s beautiful scenery is definitely worth a trip. (Lee Sang-Oh)

Gangwon-do’s beautiful scenery is definitely worth a trip

A view of Woljeongsa Temple, one of the must-visit in Gangwon-do Province. (KTO)

By Lee Kyoung Mi and Kim Young Shin

“Gangwon-do Province is the center of winter sports in Korea.

Bring your skis or snowboard, but off the slopes also be sure to also check out the public steam baths, parks & temples and great restaurants.”

In February when the Games begin, the temperature stays below freezing all day long.

A large amount of snow covers the ground in Gangwon in January and February. The capital region around Seoul also freezes every winter.

However, the southern province of Jeju Island is relatively warm, with average winter temperatures of around 7.1 C/ 44.8 F, even in January, its coldest month. If you’re visiting Korea for the PyeongChang Winter Games, you’re likely to face some bitterly cold weather. However, the slight differences between regions, such as the temperature and the snowfall, will offer you varied travel experiences from which to choose. Here are some must-visit sites to fully appreciate a Korean winter.

Enjoying winter sports on snow-covered mountain tops is one of the must-dos in Korea.

Sliding down a snow-white field will let you forget about the chilly weather as you indulge in some exciting moments on skis or snowboards. Korea’s ski resorts have relatively short runs compared to some other ski resorts. However, the beauty of the open snow, in harmony with the natural landscape, makes it worthwhile to take a trip to Korea. Some resorts allow skiers to access the runs in the early morning at dawn, or to ski until late at night, until 4 a.m. sometimes. So take some time to choose your destination. Another must-do is to visit a Korean spa, bathhouse or steam bath (jjimjilbang).

Most ski resorts in Korea have spa and public bath facilities nearby. CNN Travel wrote about Korean

public baths and steam baths, saying that they’re places where you “can soak and steam your sore muscles, ensuring you’re back in shape to hit the powder the following day,” and said that, “post slopes, a jjimjilbang session is essential.” There are many ski resorts in Korea. The Star Hill Resort, the Konjiam Resort and the Jisan Forest Resort are in Gyeonggi-do Province. The Deogyusan Resort is in Jeollabuk-do Province. The Eden Valley Resort is in Gyeongsangnam-do Province. The Alpensia Resort, the Phoenix Pyeongchang Resort and the Elysian Gangchon are in Gangwon-do Province. You can get to the Konjiam and the Elysian Gangchon resorts on Seoul’s vast subway system. By car, ski resorts in Gyeonggi-do Province are only an hour and a half from downtown Seoul.

It may take you some time to choose a ski resort for your trip to Korea this winter. To do so, there are few things you should keep in mind. First, most ski slopes in Korea close in March, so you should check ahead if you’re planning to ski after February. Also, the ski resorts in the Olympic host cities will serve as Game venues for the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Games. At the Alpensia Resort, the biathlon, cross-country skiing and ski jumping events will take place. The Phoenix Pyeongchang Resort is host to the freestyle skiing and snowboard events, and the Yongpyong Resort will host the alpine skiing.

Facilities at the three resorts will be shut down to the public, or only operate partially, during the Winter Games. Also, during the Olympics these places will only be accessible by shuttle, so carefully plan your transportation. If your body is stiff and frozen from enjoying your winter sports out in the cold, time is ripe for a dip in some wonderful natural hot springs.

Groundwater warmed by geothermal heat contains numerous minerals that have many health benefits. According to historical records, Queen Jinseong of Silla (r. 887-897) was cured of smallpox

when she was a child after bathing in a hot springs in Busan. Also, in the “Annals of the Joseon Dynasty,” a daily record of the Joseon monarchs’official affairs, it’s written that King Taejo (r. 1392-1398) visited the Suanbo hot springs in Chungju to treat his dermatitis.

Warm mineral water instantly heats the body and relaxes tense muscles. As you recover from your day on the slopes, your mind becomes clear and calm. A hot bath at a natural hot springs is highly recommended, not only to those who are tired from their outdoor winter leisure activities, but also to people who want to enjoy a warm and comfortable rest indoors. In the past, hot springs only included a simple hot tub for soaking. These days, however, hot springs come with many different tubs from which to choose, including a large pool with water leisure facilities. An open-air bath is a special experience, too, especially in the winter, as half your body is above water and exposed to the chilly wind, making your breath visible, but the other half of your body is in the warm water, letting you forget about the cold weather. Such outdoor bathing is impossible

in extreme weather, but the Korean winter is just right for outdoor hot baths. The Seokmodo Mineral Springs on Ganghwado Island near Incheon have some hot spring pools out on the beach. You can take a relaxing bath while enjoying the sea breeze and the beautiful sunset across the sea to the west.

There are many hot springs located all across the nation. Even though most of Korea’s winters are freezing cold, you can still enjoy fields of yellow canola flowers down south on Jeju Island. Although this flower blooms elsewhere in the country only during the warm spring, you can see it in December on Jeju thanks to its relatively warmer weather. The southern half of the Korean Peninsula is not huge, but it’s full of many wonderful winter destinations.

Many cities host festivals both big and small, too.

If you’re visiting Korea to enjoy the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, don’t miss the chance to experience some of the great winter adventures that await you in Korea. km137426@korea.kr

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PyeongChang Special Section #1

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