PyeongChang Special Section #6
The Olympics are now in your hands! Go to Korea.net to read more. www.korea.net
“All the memories of PyeongChang will go down in history�
The Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games begins with a beautiful show of fireworks, at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza on March 18. (Hyoja-dong Studio)
02
04
05
07
Passion pushes performance, and moves us all
Korea wins first-ever Winter Paralympic gold
Gangwon-do prepares for post-Olympics
Special delegates report back on visits to China, Japan, Russia 01
Passion pushes performance, and moves us all
Team China wins first ever Paralympic gold China’s Liu Wei (left) and Wang Meng raise their arms in joy after winning the PyeongChang Paralympics wheelchair curling gold medal match, at the Gangneung Curling Centre on March 17. China beat Norway 6-5 to win its first-ever Paralympic gold medal. (Yonhap News)
Teamwork, like two peas in a pod Belarus’s gold medalist Yury Holub (right) dances on the podium beside his guide runner Dzmitry Budzilovich during a medal ceremony for the PyeongChang Paralympics men’s 12.5 km visually impaired race at the PyeongChang Medal Plaza on March 13. Holub won a total of four medals in Pyeongchang, claiming a silver in the men’s biathlon 7.5 km, a bronze in the men’s cross-country skiing 10 km classic, and a silver in the men’s cross-country skiing 20 km. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
Hearts cry out during the national anthem Members of Team Korea break down into tears as the national anthem is played following their victory against Italy in the PyeongChang Paralympics ice hockey bronze medal match, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on March 17. Korea beat Italy 1-0. (Yonhap News)
Wheelchair curlers on Team Korea
Paralympians are tough, if not tougher than Olympians
A fatherʼs moving tears
Bang Min-Ja throws Team Korea’s first stone during the PyeongChang Paralympics wheelchair curling bronze medal match, at the Gangneung Curling Centre on March 17. Korea lost to Canada 3-5 and finished the competition in fourth place. (Yonhap News)
Canada’s Steve Arsenault (right) tackles the U.S.’s Brody Roybal during the PyeongChang Paralympics ice hockey gold medal match, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on March 18. Team USA scored its second, tie-breaking goal in overtime to claim its third consecutive Paralympic gold medal in Pyeongchang. (Yonhap News)
Peter Patmore, father of Australian para snowboarder Simon Patmore, applauds his gold medalist son during the medal ceremony for the men’s snowboard cross on March 12. “I never tried to hide the fact that my son had a disability. Instead, I gave him as many opportunities to shine out in the world,” said Peter, his eyes full of proud tears. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
Every split second counts
Siblings rejoice for bronze Austria’s Carina Edlinger (third from left) shouts for joy with her guide runner and brother Julian Edlinger (second from left), after winning a bronze medal in the PyeongChang Paralympics women’s 7.5 km classic visually impaired race, at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre on March 17. Carina has stated that her brother, who is also her coach, provided the biggest influence on her as an athlete. (Yonhap News)
02
Switzerland’s Luca Tavasci (right) extends his foot across the finish line, hoping to beat Kazakhstan’s Alexandr Gerlits (left), during the PyeongChang Paralympics men’s 1.5 km sprint classic standing semifinals, at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre on March 14. Neither qualified for the finals that day, but they moved the crowds by giving it their all. (Yonhap News)
An arm as sturdy as any leg Stephanie Jallen of the U.S. competes in the PyeongChang Paralympics alpine skiing standing women’s super combined, at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre on March 13. Jallen finished the race in fifth place with a time of 2:37.75. (Yonhap News)
PyeongChang Special Section #6
‘PyeongChang, be proud’
President Moon Jae-in attends the Closing Ceremony at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza on March 18. IPC President Andrew Parsons expressed his thanks to President Moon and first lady Kim Jung-sook who supported the athletes by visiting the event venues during the Games. (Hyoja-dong Studio)
by Jeon Han and Yoon Sojung
The PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games finished its wonderful 10-day journey with a Closing Ceremony on the night of March 18 at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza. International Paralympic Committee (IPC) President Andrew Parsons said at the Closing Ceremony in Korean, “Be proud of yourself!” The IPC president also expressed his gratitude in Korean to the athletes, family members and relatives, Paralympic Games staff, to the volunteers and to the Korean people. Mentioning the late physicist Stephen Hawking, Parsons said, “He urged us all to ‘Look at the stars, and not at our feet.’”
“Over the past 10 days, the stars have shone brightly here in Pyeongchang,” said Parsons. “Proud Paralympians, this is your time to be role models and catalysts for a more inclusive society.” “With more athletes, more countries, more media, more broadcasters and more spectators than ever before, you raised the bar for Beijing,” he said. The Closing Ceremony was a party for the athletes. The ceremony showcased a series of cultural performances themed as “We make the world move.” They featured a ballerina with hearing disability, Go Ara, a blind pianist, Kim Ye-ji, and a countertenor, Yi Hee-sang. The ceremony had a special performance by an art troupe where all the performers had a
PyeongChang Paralympics beat ticket record
disability from China, the next country to host the Winter Paralympics in 2022. The Chinese art troupe’s performance was titled “I Want to Fly.” The highlight of the ceremony was the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award that started in Korea 30 years ago. Named after Dr. Whang Youn Dai, the Korean doctor who devoted her life to Paralympic sport, the award has been given at each Paralympics since the Seoul Summer Paralympics in 1988. It goes to one male and one female Paralympian who promote the spirit of courage, determination, challenge, and strong determination. In Pyeongchang, Finnish cross-country skier Sini Pyy and alpine super combined skier Adam Hall of New Zealand were the winners. After watching a video message of the award
winners on a large screen, Whang herself appeared on stage, 30 years after the initial award. Whang met six former winners in the stadium, and she even shed some tears after receiving a special medal to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the award. When IPC President Andrew Parsons handed the Paralympic flag, which has been used since the 1988 Seoul Summer Paralympics, to Beijing Mayor Chen Jining, the athletes promised to meet again in China four years later. As the Paralympic flame died after shining for 10 days, singer Ailee and a band composed of both people with and without disabilities gave a showcase performance to complete the wonderful memories of the last night in Pyeongchang. hanjeon@korea.kr
Paralympics, safe and secure
Mounted police officers patrol the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games on March 9. (Jeon Han / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Visitors line up to buy tickets for the para ice hockey mixed preliminary round group B match between Korea and the Czech Republic, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on March 11. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Kim Eun-young and Hahm Hee-eun
Ticket sales at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games have set a new Paralympic record. The PyeongChang Paralympic Organizing Committee reported on March 13 that it has sold more than 320,000 individual tickets, exceeding its initial sales target of 220,000. This exceeds the 210,000 tickets sold at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics, as well as the 200,000 or so tickets sold at the Sochi 2014
Paralympics. Ticket sales at the PyeongChang Paralympics are even higher than the total tickets both sold and unsold at the Sochi Paralympics, which were around 316,000. Lee Hee-beom, head of the organizing committee, said, “We’re grateful for the public interest and support we received for the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics.” We’ll make sure that Game operations and visitor services are thoroughly organized, until the final moment, so that the Games can be remembered as a historic event. eykim86@korea.kr
Following the Olympics, the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games came to an end, safely and securely without any major incidents. The Gangwon-do Provincial Police Agency recently reported that during the Paralympics, there was not a single act of violent crime in Pyeongchang, Gangneung or Jeongseon, except for some minor accidents. Some of the potential major safety incidents included the unauthorized issuance of media accreditation passes, vehicle theft, property loss, stadium intrusion and drunk driving. Personalized convenience during the Paralympics was successfully provided, going beyond merely responding to any call or emergency. One Korean athlete who goes by the surname Kim was returning to the PyeongChang
Paralympic Village on March 10 after practice and had a sudden problem with a prosthetic limb, as it fell out right in front of the residence entrance. However, the athlete was able to return to their accommodations safely with the help of the on-the-spot police officer who was in charge of traffic at that location. In another occurrence, the police discovered a certain person who goes by the surname of Hong, who has learning disabilities, stuck in the bathroom near the entrance to the Gangneung Olympic Park, as the individual had sprained an ankle. The police guided them to the hospital and helped them with insurance procedures. As the PyeongChang Paralympics have been characterized as “Safe Paralympics,” the Gangwon-do provincial government has announced that this has been the results of it having arranged an average of 3,300 police officers to maintain public order, traffic flow, and athlete protection, every day. etoilejr@korea.kr
03
Korea wins first-ever Winter Paralympic gold
Sin Eui Hyun celebrates after winning the cross-country skiing menʼs 7.5 km sitting race at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre on March 17. (Yonhap News)
by Yoon Sojung
Para cross-country skier Sin Eui Hyun became the first-ever Korean gold medalist at a Winter Paralympic Games on March 17. The skier won the cross-country skiing men’s 7.5 km sitting event at the PyeongChang Biathlon Centre with a time of 22:28:40, writing new pages in the history of Korean Winter Paralympics. Sin started the race as the 33rd among 34 athletes. He clocked in at 2:13:00 at the first check point after 0.71 km, following Daniel Cnossen of the U.S. At the second check in point at 2.41 km, Sin was in the lead with a time of 7:11:90, surpassing Maksym Yarovyi of Ukraine. At the third check-in point at 3.52 km, he widened the gap by 45 seconds
ahead of the second-place Cnossen. The race got fierce at the end, as Sin lost some of his stamina. The gap between Sin and second-place Cnossen narrowed to 6.1 seconds at the 4.95 km point, and to 2.6 seconds at the 5.67 km point. Nonetheless, Sin managed to keep his lead and won a precious gold medal around his neck. Cnossen followed him 5.0 seconds later. Sin celebrated his victory with tears after winning the race. He thanked the audience that cheered for him. Earlier on March 11, Sin expressed his longing for gold after winning a bronze medal in the crosscountry skiing men’s 15 km sitting event. Later that day, Sin held a press conference at the PyeongChang Athletes’ Village. “Thanks to all the support from so many people, I was able to win the gold,” he said, expressing his gratitude for their support. “I couldn’t sleep well last night, as I didn’t shoot well in the biathlon yesterday. Today, I did it. It was do-or-die for me.” “I didn’t expect a gold, but I did take care to sprint a bit more, which brought a good result,” he said. He also sent a special message to all people with disabilities. “I hope you can forget about the accident, as you can’t turn back time. Instead, I hope you can have positive thoughts and come out on the other side and take an active part in society.” arete@korea.kr
Bronze medal, with public support Hwan shouted, “Hey, man, it’s a goal! Goal!” Since it was a bronze-winning goal, I’m happy that I scored it. Did you have any specially prepared goal celebration? First, raising up my right arm, and if I saw my wife in the stadium, holding my hand in a shape of a heart.
Jang Dong Shin who scored a bronze-winning goal in the para ice hockey mixed bronze medal match, talks about the game and the Paralympics in general at the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 17. (Park Jang-bhin / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Just three minutes and 18 seconds before the game ends, it was a 0:0 tie. Jung Seung Hwan made a quick dash and passed the puck toward the Italian goalpost, which led to a winning goal as Jang Dong Shin didn’t miss the chance to score. As the goal was confirmed, making the score 1:0, Jang Dong Shin and the other players embraced each other with joy. This scene at the para ice hockey mixed bronze medal match at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games has become history in the Korean history of para ice hockey. In the center of this historic scene, there is Jang Dong Shin. The Korea.net team met with Jang Dong Shin after the bronze medal game on March 17, to hear about the game and the Paralympics in general. In the past, Jang had participated in the Vancouver 2010 Paralympics and the Sochi 2014 Paralympics. He’s also the hero who scored the first goal at the match between Korea and Japan. Following your first goal in the match against Japan, today you scored an important goal that determined today’s medal. How do you feel? As for the match against Japan, I scored the first goal when we were having difficulty in a game that we should have won easily. It was a very pleasant goal, because it became a turning point for the whole team. As for the match against Italy for the bronze medal, I didn’t even realize that I scored a goal until Jung Seung 04
All the players shed tears as they fulfilled their goals. What comments did the players share in the locker room after the game? There were no tears in the locker room, only cheers and laughter. The coach shouted, “You’ve all worked hard for two years. Enjoy this evening as much as possible!” Now that the matches are over and that only the medal ceremony is ahead, what are your plans for the future? I’ve longed for a satisfying ending to the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, and for another four years of preparation for the next Paralympics. I think my dreams have come true. So I’m very pleased. Now, I’m ready to prepare for the next four years. What do the PyeongChang Paralympics mean to the athletes? A lot of people have shown an interest in the PyeongChang Paralympics, and so I feel like my heart can burst with joy. Thanks to the Paralympics, it seems that a lot of promotion was carried out. The para ice hockey event seems to have become widely known among the public. Since we don’t have any rookie at the moment, we hope that more young people can become interested in the sport. In all the para ice hockey matches at the PyeongChang Paralympics, there was a lot of cheering from the spectators. What would you like to say to the fans? Our para ice hockey team wrote a new page in history at the Gangneung Hockey Centre. It was Korea’s first bronze medal in para ice hockey. A lot of people came to the match and cheered for the team. I think that the final goal was only possible because of that. To me, it was like a goal that was truly lucky. I sincerely thank all the people who cheered together. pjb921120@korea.kr
First lady Kim Jung-sook boosts Paralympics
First lady Kim Jung-sook cheers for Team Korea during the para ice hockey mixed semifinals match between Korea and Canada at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, at the Gangneung Hockey Centre in Gangwon-do on March 15. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
There is one person visiting the Paralympic stadiums and cheering for the Korean athletes every day. It’s the wife of President Moon Jae-in, first lady Kim Jung-sook. As expected, Kim visited the Gangneung Hockey Centre to cheer for Team Korea in the para ice hockey mixed semifinals match between Korea and Canada on March 15. Kim appeared shortly after the game began and greeted the families of the ice hockey players Jang Dong-shin and Lee Ji-hoon, and then she settled in to concentrate on the match. When the crowds started to cheer, even before she put down her bag, she hurriedly took out her glasses to catch up with the on-ice action. As the Korean athletes advanced, she clenched her fists, gave the thumbs up, and cheered loudly. When they missed a goal, she was disappointed together with the crowds. The crowds were amazed and happy at the same time to see the first lady. Kim So-young, who came from Daejeon to see the game with her family, said, “I’m very grateful that she came to watch the Paralympics, since the Paralympics don’t get as much attention as the Olympics. It felt like we enjoyed the game together, since we were able to see her closely in-person and take pictures together.” Park Chun Bong, a teacher at the Seoul Jeongmun School, a school for students with learning disabilities, came to watch the game with his students. He said, “The way she watches the game and cheers for the team looked nice and humble.” He laughed as he
added, “Next time, I’d like to visit Cheong Wa Dae for a field trip with our students.” Even in situations where security might not be the most secure, because of many people in one localized area, first lady Kim actively talked with the people around her. When people walked up to her, they were blocked by her security detail, but the first lady made sure that, in the end, they were able to take selfies with her. It wasn’t only the locals who were interested by her presence at the game. Jeremy Henry and a friend of his from Canada went up to the first lady to take a commemorative photo with her. However, they weren’t able to because of the huge crowd around her. Nonetheless, Kim noticed them and posed for a picture with them. Henry, who could not hide his joy after getting the photograph, said, “Korea is a very lovely country,” and added with a big smile that, “Everyone I met in Korea, including the first lady, is kind.” On the other hand, there were high school students who were on a field trip and they didn’t all recognize the first lady, who was sitting nearby. They asked why so many people were gathered around her. Jang Dong Shin’s wife, Bae Hye Sim, who watched the game together with the first lady, said, “Actually, only the families of the players cheered for the team until now. I was concerned that it would be the same case this time, again. I’m very glad that the first lady showed an interest, and subsequently an increasing number of channels showed the game.” Bae said she and her daughter met the first lady at a film preview of “Parallel” (2014) on Feb. 19. “The first lady remembered my daughter’s name and called her by name, as she gave cookies to her as a present. I was very touched by how she took care of us, ever so dearly. Please share this story in the article,” she said. Ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games on March 9, first lady Kim said in a written brief that she would watch as many matches as possible during the Paralympics. She has kept this pledge, too, by attending the men’s 7.5 km and women’s 6.5 km sprint biathlon finals on March 10, the para ice hockey match between Korea and the Czech Republic on March 11, the wheelchair curling match between Korea and Switzerland on March 13, and the para ice hockey match between Korea and Canada on March 15. jesimin@korea.kr
Korean para ice hockey team wins first ever medal
After scoring a goal in the bronze medal ice hockey match at the PyeongChang Paralympics on March 17, Jang Dong Shin shares the joy with Jung Seung Hwan who had the assist. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
The Korean para ice hockey team won its firstever medal in the history of Korean para ice hockey at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Games, wrapping up its great performance in Pyeongchang. In the bronze medal game against Italy at the Gangneung Hockey Centre on March 17, the Korean team beat Italy 1-0 with a goal by Jang Dong Shin. Team Korea pushed hard starting in the first period and had twice as many shots on goal. Jung Seung Hwan shot five times in a row as soon as the second period started, and then Jang Dong Shin and Kim Young Sung joined in the offense as well. However, Italy wouldn’t give up a goal to the
Paralympic hosts that easily. Just as the Italian team was pushed back, it would then launch a counteroffensive, fast and furious, and rush back to the Korean goal. However, they were not able to break through goal keeper Lee Jae Woong. The winner was decided in the final period. Lee Jong Kyung passed the puck to Jung Seung Hwan, and Jang Dong Shin cracked a shot, scoring the winning goal with 3 minutes and 18 seconds left until the end of the game. When the match ended with Team Korea’s victory, the Korean athletes embraced each other and shed tears. They expressed their gratitude to the audience that cheered for them by lifting their hockey sticks into the air, waving them toward the audience. The winning team also hugged the athletes on the other team. The Korean team circled the Taegeukgi national flag unfolded on the ice and started singing the national anthem. The crowd, which had yet to leave the rink, sang along. Para ice hockey player Choi Si Woo said, “I’m so proud of the older brothers on our team who worked so hard for more than 10 years for this day,” in a trembling voice and couldn’t finish his comment. President Moon Jae-in himself visited the venue to watch the game. President Moon went down to the ice with first lady Kim Jung-sook and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan to offer congratulations to the athletes and to pose for commemorative photos with the bronze-winning team. jesimin@korea.kr
PyeongChang Special Section #6
Gangwon-do prepares for post-Olympics Getting it fixed at PyeongChang
Two days before the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, Kim Bong Rae talks about the Olympic bidding procedure while showing some of the older signs he used to bid for Pyeongchang. He says, ‘It would be difficult to have a greater fortune than the Olympics. Thanks to the Olympics, Gangwon-do Province has achieved huge economic development,’ in Pyeongchang, Gangwondo Province, on March 16. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
‘2018 With the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, the festival held across Pyeongchang, Jeongseon and Gangneung in Gangwon-do Province has finally come to an end on March 18. It took almost a whole month, from the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics on Feb. 9 through to the Closing Ceremony of the Paralympics on March 18. How did the atmosphere in Gangwon-do Province change after a month-long, breathtaking journey? Kim Bong Rae, a local resident who was born and raised in Gangwon-do Province, has been preparing for the PyeongChang Olympics since the very beginning. He has been involved as an alpine skiing referee and as a volunteer at the PyeongChang Games. His passion for the PyeongChang Olympics led to a collection of articles and records, and eventually he created a small museum of the PyeongChang Olympics next to his restaurant. He said with bitterness that, “It’s difficult to believe that it’s all over now.” “However, since the Olympic Games were a huge success, the people of Gangwon-do Province can utilize the remaining facilities quite effectively. The Olympic Games were just the first half of the game. Now, we have to prepare for the second half,” he said. Han Seung Sook, who we met at the Gangwondo Province Volunteer Information Center, also said, “Now, after the end of the Paralympics, it’s time for Pyeongchang itself.”
Han, who came from Wonju, Gangwon-do Province, to volunteer in Pyeongchang, said, “In the long run, the Olympic Games have secured the foundation for economic development in Gangwon-do Province. From now on, Gangwon-do Province has an important responsibility. It needs to contemplate how to use it effectively.” Kim Kyung A, who runs a bar near the Olympic Plaza in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, said, “I’m actually quite relieved that it’s finally over,” she laughed, saying that she could now return to her normal life. It’s true that she was able to have a special experience through the Olympics, but she expressed regret that she couldn’t truly enjoy the Olympics due to her work. She also expressed concern about economic stagnation after the Olympics. Kim Hee Jueng, who runs a third-generation sundubu soft tofu restaurant in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, said, “Sales didn’t increase as much as I expected before the Olympics.” She added with hope that, “Thanks to the Olympics, now there are more transportation facilities, like the high-speed KTX train. I hope more people can visit the restaurant using the transportation facilities.” Choi Moon-soon, governor of Gangwondo Province, said, “Although it wasn’t perfect, there’s no doubt that -- in general -- it was the best Olympics so far. This wasn’t only the result of the efforts made by the local residents of Gangwondo Province, but also by all the citizens of Korea and overseas Koreans everywhere, who together worked for this accomplishment. Through sports, we have opened the door to improve inter-Korean ties, and we will keep on expanding the scope of the exchanges.” He expressed his will to increase exchanges with North Korea in non-sports fields, too, such as tours to the Geumgangsan Mountain region and the construction of the Cheorwon “peace industrial complex.” The aftermath of the Winter Olympics varies among different host cities. Some have become popular by keeping the Olympic legacy alive, such as London, while others, such as Japan’s Nagano, have been burdened with debt. We hope that Pyeongchang in Gangwon-do Province, which has successfully completed the Olympics and Paralympics, will continue its efforts to remain in the spotlight of the world.
Paralympics
Twenty-three technicians from 10 countries repair sport equipment for Paralympic athletes at the Ottobock Repair Service Center for Prosthetics, Orthotics and Wheelchairs, in the PyeongChang Paralympic Village on March 14. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
On the afternoon of March 14, machine sounds were constantly heard at the Ottobock Repair Service Center for Prosthetics Orthotics and Wheelchairs in the PyeongChang Paralympic Village. The repair center, which has been officially sponsored since the Seoul 1988 Paralympic Summer Games, is a multi-functional repair center that repairs curling wheelchairs, ice hockey equipment, prosthetic limbs and other sport equipment free-of-charge for the Paralympic athletes. There’s no facility like this at the Olympics. The repair center is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the Paralympics and is filled with over 8,000 parts and pieces, along with welding machines, sewing machines, grinders and other repair tools from Germany. On the large workbench in the center, 23 technicians from 10 countries were occupied with grinding wheelchair tires and welding broken ice hockey sleds. In addition to the sport equipment, the technicians have also repaired glasses, luggage, hiking boots and
Paralympians transform lives through sport
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan says on March 17 that the government will do its utmost to support people with disabilities make changes in their lives. He was speaking during Paralympic Team Night at Korea House at the Gangneung Olympic Park in Gangneung. (Park Jang-bhin / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
“Every flower blooms from the blessings inside itself,” said Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jongwhan. Paraphrasing a phrase from a poem by Korean poet Ryu Si-hwa, Minister Do said at “Paralympic Team Night” at Korea House at the Gangneung Olympic Park that the current Korean administration won’t spare any effort in supporting people with disabilities so that they can make true changes in their lives. The minister mentioned the story of the family of Sin Eui Hyun, the first-ever Korean Paralympian to win a gold medal. When Sin’s daughter feels sad when she sees her father fall frequently, his wife, Kim Huiseon,
kgh89@korea.kr
kgh89@korea.kr
Paralympic Achievement Award
km137426@korea.kr
told her that, “It’s alright. Your father used to fall more often, and that helped him to get to where he is today.” Minister Do said that, “The dialogue between his wife and his daughter shows that the life of an athlete shows that they have been living their life by walking the path of countless falls, collapses and breaks.” “The government will not forget the tears and hardship that they underwent,” said the minister. “All the Paralympians have proved that they can change their lives through sports. They gave hope to 2.51 million people with disabilities and to their family members, which are about 10 million,” he said. Paralympic Committee President Lee Myungho said, “The successful hosting of the Games is backed by the hard work of the athletes who did their best in every moment of the Games and to the Korean people who gave us their strong cheers.” Lee then encouraged the athletes to enjoy the festive mood at the event. The special Paralympic Team Night program included video footage of highlight from the Paralympics, individual stories of the athletes, performances, and dinner. Athletes applauded with shouts of joy at some of the scenes, such as the Opening Ceremony when the para ice hockey team captain Han Min Su climbed up to the torch platform while carrying the torch. They also gave big rounds of applause when para cross-country skier Sin won a gold medal and when the video showed the Korean para ice hockey team playing against Japan.
trousers that the athletes brought, as the athletes came in and asked, “Can this also be repaired?” Wang Tiegang, a welding technician from Beijing, said, “The most rewarding moment was when I repaired the sled of a U.S. hockey player during the para ice hockey mixed preliminary round group B match between Korea and the U.S. on March 13.” Nakajima Hiroki, a Japanese technician, said with pride that, “With the development of various technologies and tools, more sports are available for the disabled, and we have big roles in this area.” The repair center has provided a total of 280 individual repairs since the Paralympic Games opened. Peter Franzel, the organizing director of the company that provides the service, said, “We hope that more athletes will come and enjoy our repair services so that they can return home without any problems after the Paralympics. Hopefully, the Paralympic Games could influence Korean society so that disabled people who are physically capable of exercising, but can’t do it, would have an opportunity to come out into society at large.”
Whang Youn-dai gives the welcome speech during a reception held at Korea House at the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 16. Whang presents the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award, part of the official Closing Ceremony at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
There is a special award that is given out at the Paralympic Games. The Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award was established after Whang Youn-dai herself donated the prize money she received during the 1988 Summer Paralympics to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). She is the first Korean female doctor with an impairment and she has contributed greatly to protect the rights of the disabled throughout her career. At every Paralympic Games, the award is given to one female and one male athlete who best exemplifies the drive to overcome their disability and a spirit of facing one’s challenges, regardless of nationality or medal standing. This year, the award goes to alpine skier Adam Hall of New Zealand and to cross-country and biathlon skier Sini Pyy from Finland.
Whang herself attended a reception, held at Korea House in the Gangneung Olympic Park on March 16. She said, “The award started in Korea and now I present the award in Korea for the first time after 30 years. I see many disabled athletes take an active part in society and create their own way of life, and they have a positive influence on many people. It reminds me of the small seed I sowed 30 years ago.” While congratulating this year’s winners, Whang asked them to “take the lead in your country to create a social structure in which the disabled can show their true abilities.” This year’s winner Sini Pyy said, “I’ve just begun to understand what it means to be a Paralympic athlete. It’s such an honor. I will work hard in Finland and across international society so that other Paralympic athletes will not experience any of the difficulties I have gone through to come this far.” Earlier winners also attended the event. Paralympic coach Colette Bourgoje of Canada, winner of the award at the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Games, said, “Winning the award was the opportunity for me to think of how I can contribute to the development of para sports,” while celebrating the winners this year. Former Paralympic swimmer David Lega, winner of the award at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, said, “The award gave me courage, inspiration and the platform to start a new life after retirement.” He is now the deputy mayor of Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden. kgh89@korea.kr
05
Slovak athlete gets four golds in PyeongChang North Korean Paralympians return home meditation to ease our minds. The real secret is that we practice non-stop and try to train our mental condition at any cost. Even sports needs a lot of brain power, so harmony between body and mind is important.
Henrieta Farkasova (left) and her guide runner, Natalia Subrtova, who won four gold medals in the womenʼs visually impaired alpine skiing competition, pose for a photo at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza in Gangwondo on March 17. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
Henrieta Farkasova of Slovakia is the only women’s visually impaired alpine skier at the PyeongChang Paralympic Games who won four gold medals. Farkasova, who teamed up with her guide runner Natalia Subrtova, took the gold in the downhill, super giant slalom, super combined and giant slalom events. She was expected to win a gold medal in the slalom event as well, but, unfortunately, took second place there, grabbing four gold medals and a silver medal in total. Athletes can’t be judged solely by the medal standings, but the Slovak alpine skier could really be called the “MVP of the PyeongChang Paralympics,” as she was the top-scorer with four gold and a silver, out of the five gold medals available in alpine skiing at the Paralympics. Korea.net sat down with the athlete and her guide runner at a café near the PyeongChang Olympic Park in Gangwon-do on March 17, one day before the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang Games, to hear their stories. You won four gold medals this time. What’s the secret behind these excellent results? We improved our physical condition with massages to help relax our muscles, and with
These are your third Paralympics, after the ones in Vancouver in 2010 and Sochi in 2014. How are each different? We debuted at the Vancouver Paralympics. As we didn’t have any experience, we didn’t know what to do and went through a hard time. It’s different now. We know what to do, to give our best performance, after our many experiences. Te a m w o r k i s i m p o r ta n t i n a l l competitions. How did you two meet? We met 10 years ago. After receiving an offer, we underwent preliminary training in Austria. Actually, we weren’t perfect for each other at first. Farkasova thought I (Subrtova) was so small and thin. Her former guide runner was very big, so she wasn’t used to me. However, as we repeatedly practiced together, we began to understand each other and 10 years have passed already. Farkasova’s body leaned toward Subrtova throughout the interview, which shows how much she trusts her partner. Subrtova wouldn’t take her eyes off Farkasova either, which illustrates that their deep bond helped to lead to such good results. When asked when is the most unforgettable moment at the PyeongChang Paralympics, they said, “When we took the gold medal, above all,” and smiled brightly. They pulled out their medals and held them up proudly. When the actual gold medals were unveiled in the cafe, people nearby were quite excited. Finally, when the two were told that we look forward to seeing their performance again at the 2022 Winter Paralympics, they said, “We competed in three Paralympics, so we’ve had enough. However, no one knows what will happen next,” leaving lingering expectations for the next Paralympics. km137426@korea.kr
Paralympics from different perspectives by Korea.net PyeongChang Special Report Team
People’s perspectives of disabled people vary according to their own circumstances. Perceptions of disabled people perceived through the eyes of complete strangers, or through the eyes of family or friends, differ greatly. Such varieties of perspectives co-exist in the stadiums of the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games. On March 11, the day of the men’s para ice hockey match between Korea and the Czech Republic, all the tickets were sold out and the stadium was packed. The athletes’ intense movements, dull thuds, and the cheering of the crowds were the same as at last month’s Olympic Games, but it was different from the passionate atmosphere of Olympics. Lee Kyu Sung, who couldn’t get a ticket to the Olympic Games, came for the Paralympics instead. He said, “I felt sorry when a disabled athlete fell and couldn’t get up easily. Throughout my life, I never really had many opportunities to meet disabled people, so it’s difficult for me to avoid seeing them with pity.” On the other side of the stadium, the audience had flushed and concerned faces. Those who held up signs and Taegeukgi flag in both hands, being fully immersed in the game, were the athletes’ family members. The families cheered for every action the athletes made, and as soon as the game was over, they rushed down to greet the athletes. Song Gyung Soon, mother of the para ice 06
hockey player Lee Jae Woong, said, “I’m just glad that the game finished without any injuries.” She smiled as she showed how proud she was of her son who never gave up after his tough childhood of being bullied for his disability. Choi Min Hee, the wife of para ice hockey player Lee Jong Kyung, also praised the athletes. “It’s already special and meaningful that they have lived with positive minds.” However, the interviewers with the athletes noted that exaggerated praise could become a burden on the athletes. Yu Man Gyun, who had an interview right before the game, emphasized that, “What we want isn’t sympathy or a heroic tale of overcoming difficulties. All we want is just to be treated normally.” It was a solemn fact that different perspectives on the disabled existed in the stadium. However, we shouldn’t forcibly try to unify different perspectives that coexist, since it’s not easy to understand without experience. Still, changes can occur through efforts to be interested in each other’s perspectives and by being together in one place, such as in the stadium. Everyone has little cuts or bruises on their elbows and knees when they slip and tumble, and a disability should also be naturally accepted in a person’s life. Hopefully, the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games offer the time and space for different perspectives to narrow down toward one direction. eykim86@korea.kr
The North Korean Paralympic delegation at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games leaves the PyeongChang Paralympic Village to return to North Korea on March 15. (Yonhap News)
by Lee Kyoung Mi and Hahm Hee-eun
The North Korean Paralympic delegation has finished its itinerary at the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games without any problems, and has now returned to North Korea. On the morning of March 15, the North Korean delegation’s 24 members, including chief representative, Kim Mun Chol, vice chairman of the
Central Committee of the Korean Federation for the Protection of the Disabled from North Korea (KFPD), Jong Hyon, and cross-country skiers Ma Yu Chol and Kim Jong Hyon, headed to Paju where it was to cross through the Gyeongui Highway Transit Office. When reporters asked, “Have the PyeongChang Paralympics been a meaningful event in terms of cooperation between the two Koreas?” just before the North Korean delegation prepared to leave, Hwang Chung-song, a senior official on the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, agreed and said, “That’s exactly right!” Kim Mun Chol also said, “Let’s see each other again,” as he boarded the bus. Lim Chan-kyu, director of the Pyeongchang Paralympic Committee, said farewell to the North Korean delegation and said, “I hope that South and North Korea can have further exchanges across more sports.” North Korea, which was participating in its first Winter Paralympics thanks to a wild card it received from the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), had athletes in the men’s 15 km sitting cross-country skiing event, Ma Yu Chol, and in the men’s 1.1 km sprint sitting cross-country skiing event, Kim Jong Hyon. Although their placements weren’t always at the top, they never gave up and persevered until the end. km137426@korea.kr
‘Enjoy the Paralympics as they are!’ by Korea.net Pyeongchang Special Report Team
A lot of questions come to mind when watching the Paralympic live broadcasts. Although the types of sports are the same as the Olympics, the rules are slightly different. There are special pieces of equipment that can’t be seen during the Olympics, and according to the degree of disability, additional points might be awarded, making it difficult to know who won the gold until the final calculations are complete. To solve these inquiries, each broadcaster provides a duo of one sport commentator and one professional sport announcer. Korea.net recently sat down with Kim Kwon-Il who is in charge of KBS sports broadcasting. He shared with us his experiences and knowledge about broadcasting, disability sports and the Paralympics. Kim is an expert in disability sports who works on policy improvements for disabled people in the Policy Development Office at the Korea Institute of Sport Science, part of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.
How did you become a sport broad casterforthePyeongChang2018Paralympic Winter Games? Due to the nature of the Paralympics, there’s a realistic difficulty in inviting experts in all sports to be commentators. Therefore, it’s necessary to have a commentator who can relay all the events comprehensively, and at the same time explain disability sports and their policies. I think that’s the reason why I was chosen for this position. In 2016 during the Rio Paralympics, I worked with KBS for the first time, and that experience led to these PyeongChang Paralympics. Do you have any specialty among the events, or favorite sport? For me, I don’t have any major type of Paralympic sport that I’m best at announcing. I work on all types of events, among which, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing and the biathlon are aired live. As for wheelchair curling and para ice hockey, there are other professional commentators, so I only introduce the game highlights through a pre-recorded broadcast. I’ll also be in charge of the broadcast we’re preparing for the Closing Ceremony on the final day of the Paralympics. What’s your main focus when you comment on the Games? The most frequently asked questions from the audience are what kind of disability do the athletes have, how the games differ from the Olympics, and how the disability factor changes the events. So I should use the
The lead researcher at the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, Kim Kwon-Il, who is also a KBS sports broadcaster for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, talks about broadcasting and disability sports, at Korea House in Gangneung on March 15. (Kim Sunjoo / Korea.net)
professional vocabulary concerning disability, but that would just make the explanations more complicated and more difficult to understand for most people. Therefore, I try not to use the professional vocabulary and I just explain it in the easiest way possible. Normally, I emphasize certain events in the race and try to explain why they’re noteworthy. For instance, when we watch an alpine skier in the sitting category, they come down the slope sitting on one plate, a monoski, and using the outrigger to control their direction. I’m amazed by the greatness of the human body when I see how they come down the steep slope at that speed. I always try to stress these points when doing a broadcast.
Have there been any great broadcasting experiences here at these Paralympics? During the snowboarding on March 12, the starting device was broken and so event was delayed for over an hour. At the time, we were live on air, and I really didn’t know what to do. Extemporaneously, I started to talk about disabled athletes, sports and policies. I also shared my thoughts about the positive changes I see in the public perception of disabled people and of the Paralympics, the boom effect of the Paralympics, special rules at Paralympics, and other stuff. It was a pity that the later part of the event couldn’t be broadcast due to time restrictions. As a sports broadcaster, what do you expect from the audience? In the past, the public perception of disabled people was different from it is now. Honestly, the public used to perceive disabled as people as people who needed help, people who ought to be pitied. I think the fastest way to change this perception is through sports. Whether the person is disabled or non-disabled, the way in which we try to overcome our limits are all the same, as we are all merely human beings. I hope that people can see the Paralympics as just a normal type of sport. I’ll try my best to make the broadcasts as easy and entertaining as possible so that I can contribute to changing and improving these perceptions. jesimin@korea.kr
PyeongChang Special Section #6
Special delegates report back on visits to China, Japan, Russia
Inter-Korean summit committee launched
Chief of the National Security Office Chung Eui-yong (third from left) briefs Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 12 on the latest results of the presidential special delegationʼs trip to North Korea and to the U.S. This could potentially lead to a series of talks between South and North Korea and between the U.S. and the North. (Yonhap News)
by Sohn JiAe
President Moon Jae-in has asked for follow-up measures after being briefed by the presidential special delegation that went to North Korea on its latest visits to China, Japan and Russia. On March 15 in a meeting with Chief of the National Security Office Chung Eui-yong and National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon, who recently traveled around the region to explain the potential outcomes of an inter-Korean summit and of talks between the U.S. and the North, President Moon asked that a preparation committee for the expected inter-Korean summit be run effectively and also called for efforts to draw support for the upcoming talks not only from neighboring countries, but also from the whole world. The head of the delegation, Chung, met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on March 12 and then held a series of talks with high-ranking Russian officials, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov, on March 13 and 14. According to Cheong Wa Dae, President Xi told Chung that, “China, as a close neighbor to South Korea, fully supports the way in which efforts to improve inter-Korean ties and cooperation on reconciliation have been consistently made. Such efforts have made great progress on the overall situation across the Korean Peninsula, and have also made dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang possible. I look forward to the smooth development and good outcome of the expected inter-Korean summit. China, too, will join forces so that can come true.” The Russian foreign minister said to Chung
that the Russian government would fully support the two sets of talks with the North, and that it would maintain close cooperation with the South to ensure the talks are successful. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his respect for President Moon’s leadership that has led to an improved inter-Korean relationship and to dramatic changes in the North’s denuclearization, in a meeting with the NIS chief on March 13. “The current changes we face on the Korean Peninsula are the outcome of close trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S. and Japan,” said the Japanese prime minister. “In the face of two series of talks with Seoul and then with Washington, I don’t believe that Pyongyang would see these opportunities simply as ones to drag out the current situation,” he said, seemingly in a backlash against some skeptical opinions about the North’s overtures. Meanwhile, the newly-launched preparation committee for the expected inter-Korean talks announced after its first general meeting on March 16 that it would hold a meeting between high-ranking South and North Korean officials to facilitate the summit sometime in late March. It would also push forward performances in Pyongyang by South Korean entertainers and by a taekwondo demonstration team in early April. To discuss the Pyongyang shows, the government will hold a working-level meeting with the North at the Panmunjom truce village early next week. Finally, the committee will appoint a panel of 30 to 40 advisory members, led by former Unification Minister Lim Dongwon, which will share its experiences of the two previous inter-Korean summits that took place in 2000 and 2007. jiae5853@korea.kr
The preparation committee for the upcoming inter-Korean talks holds its first meeting to discuss ways to facilitate the summit, tentatively scheduled for April. (Cheong Wa Dae)
by Xu Aiying and Sohn JiAe
More details about the launch and operation of a preparation committee for the expected interKorean talks have been revealed. In a press briefing on March 15, Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom outlined how the committee of eight people was set up and explained that it would hold its first general meeting on March 16. Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok heads the new preparation committee, and Minister of Unification Cho Myoung-Gyon will serve as an administrator. Committee members include Chief of the National Security Office Chung Eui-yong, Chief of Staff for Policy Chang Ha-sung, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo, National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Suh Hoon and Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination Hong Nam-ki. The committee is divided into three subcommittees, covering the agenda, communications & public relations, and then
President Moon Jae-in talks about inter-Korean ties that have recently improved, in a meeting with his top aides at Cheong Wa Dae on March 12. (Cheong Wa Dae)
by Sohn JiAe
President Moon Jae-in said in regard to two upcoming potentially historic meetings with North Korea -- first, between South and North
jiae5853@korea.kr
xuaiy@korea.kr
President Moon to visit Vietnam, UAE
Inter-Korean, US-NK talks to make dramatic changes in world history: president Korea in April, and second between the U.S. and North Korea -- that, “Should we succeed, there would be dramatic changes in world history and South Korea would play a leading part in such changes.” In a meeting with his top aides at Cheong Wa Dae on March 12, President Moon said that the fate of South Korea and the Korean Peninsula would depend on the success of the two talks. “This is too important an opportunity to miss, not just for a government but for our nation. We could seize this opportunity because the whole world desires peace, not war and longs for a diplomatic solution, not a military solution,” the president stressed. President Moon continued to ask that although it’s anybody’s guess as to what the upcoming summits would produce, the government and the people should combine all their strength as one so that the talks would be successful.
operations support. The agenda subcommittee, led by Vice Minister of Unification Chun Haesung, will establish the agenda and strategies for the summit. The communications & public relations subcommittee, headed by senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young Chan, will plan strategies to promote the upcoming talks. Lastly, the operations support subcommittee, under NIS second deputy director Kim Sanggyun, will undertake situation management and support the planning process. The committee will hold general meetings once a week or once every one or two weeks and will also have working-level meetings three or four times a week. The working-level meetings will be presided over by the committee head, Im, with administrator Cho and the chiefs of the three subcommittees in attendance. Cheong Wa Dae said that, “The prep committee has been set in motion with members of the government and Cheong Wa Dae, and will be operated systematically and effectively. Compared to the one for the 2007 inter-Korean summit, the committee this time has been simplified so as to handle tasks more easily and more swiftly.”
President Moon Jae-in (left) meets with his Vietnamese counterpart, Tran Dai Quang, in Da Nang, Vietnam, in November 2017. (Cheong Wa Dae)
by Sohn JiAe
President Moon Jae-in will soon visit Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. The president will embark on a state visit to Hanoi from March 22 to 24 to hold a summit with his Vietnamese counterpart, Tran Dai Quang. He will have a series of talks with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chairperson Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan of the National Assembly of Vietnam.
President Moon will then travel to Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the UAE from March 24 to 27. He will meet with Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed Al-Nahyan for a summit about how the relationship between the two countries has developed since 2009 when they established their “strategic partnership.” They will also discuss ways to further develop bilateral ties. President Moon is scheduled to hold talks with UAE Prime Minister and ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Mohammed Al Maktoum. “Vietnam is our largest trading partner among the 10 ASEAN member states and the largest in terms of investment, human-to-human exchanges and development cooperation. President Moon’s state visit to the country will surely help us to put on track the New Southern Policy that our administration is pushing forward, and also will be a crucial stepping stone for us to diversify our diplomacy in the region,” said Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Eui-kyeom in a press briefing on March 15. As for the visit to the UAE, a first to the Middle East, the spokesperson said, “It will solidify trust and friendship between the two leaders and will lay the foundation for increased future-oriented cooperation between our two countries.” jiae5853@korea.kr
07
PyeongChang Special Section #6
≠â‰
Passion. Connected
I hope to see you again in a peaceful Korea.
You were all champions here in PyeongChang!
PyeongChang 2018 Olympic mascot Soohorang
PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic mascot Bandabi
PyeongChang 2018 Paralympics QR-code Service
English
08
Chinese
Arabic
French
Japanese
Russian
German
Vietnamese
Spanish