The Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, South Korea was fraught with meaning, symbolism and golden moments. First and foremost, Pyeongchang is only forty miles from the Korean Demilitarized Zone, and this ceremony stood out as a showcase of the essentials of Asian and Korean culture. The ceremony was held at the Pyeongchang Olympic Stadium, a temporary venue built just for the opening and closing ceremonies.
In the midst of tumultuous politics between South Korea, North Korea and the United States of America, President Moon Jae-in said from day one that he wanted to work on improving political relations between North and South Korea. His efforts came to fruition such as North Korean athletes and South Korean athletes marching together during the Parade of Nations as just Korea, and the merging of North and South Korean athletes in the women’s ice hockey team.
The executive creative director of the Opening Ceremony was Song Seung-whan, a South Korean actor and theatrical creator, focused on themes of peace and harmony. In combination with the display of unity between North and South Korea, the ceremony’s symbolism held that much more meaning. Unfortunately, a norovirus outbreak had struck Pyeongchang just weeks before the Opening Ceremony. It apparently has spread through the security and Olympic workers.
1. Kim Yo-jong
Most interesting appearance of the night was of Kim Yo-jong, the sister of Kim Jong-un. She is considered the “princess of North Korea” and her presence in South Korea could mean that North Korea might also be extending their hands in peace to South Korea. She sat just one row behind United States’ Vice President Mike Pence and his wife.
2. White Tiger
The opening ceremony followed five elementary school students, and it began with the children happily walking alongside a white tiger, a puppet supported by dancers. The white tiger is meant to protect, and it is even one of the mascots of the 2018 Winter Olympics by the name of Soohorang. The opening montage of animals, humans and the five children on stage was supposed to represent how Asians and Koreans think that men can live in harmony with nature.
3. Female Drummers
A large number of women clothed in traditional Korean hanbok, some seated and some dancing, played janggu drums in unison.
4. Taeguk
By the end of the drumming and traditional dance part, the women changed their white hanbok to red and blue, becoming the center circle of the Korean flag, the Taeguk. The Taeguk symbolizes yin and yang, and the balance of all opposites.
5. Dancing Jamaican athletes
Kpop music from the 1950s to current day was played throughout the Parade of Nations, and no country danced more enthusiastically than Jamaica. It was a pleasure to see them excited and energetic during the freezing Opening Ceremony.
6. Tonga athlete
Of course, no one can stop talking about the athlete from Tonga, Pita Taufatofua. Having gone viral at the 2016 Summer Olympics as the shirtless flag bearer of Tonga, he came back to the 2018 Winter Olympics after changing events from taekwondo to cross-country skiing. Alongside his oiled shirtless chest, Taufatofua also wore a traditional Ta’ovala, a Tongan dress, his bare chest even more touching in freezing temperature.
7. Korea
North Korean and South Korean athletes marched together under one single flag, the Korean peninsula printed on a white background, and came last as the host nation named just Korea. The flag bearers were joint as well: a North Korean woman, Hwang Chung-gum and a South Korean man, Won Yun-jong. This moment was the most emblematic of the themes of peace and unity presented at the Opening Ceremony.
8. Tradition to Technology
The five kids begin to draw using virtual reality, and imagine their future. The ceremony changes from one of tradition to one of modernity, following South Korea’s jump into the Information Age as one of the most advanced nations in the world in terms of technology.
9. John Lennon’s “Imagine”
Four Korean singers: Ha Hyun-woo of ban Guckkasten, Ahn Ji-young of duo Bolbbalgan4, Lee Eun-mi and Jeon In-kwon of band Deulgukhwa sang John Lennon’s “Imagine” as performers carrying electric candles formed the shapes of two doves. The two doves merged into one large dove, then more performers filled in the large dove during this quiet moment. The dove is used often during Olympic opening ceremonies as it symbolizes peace.
11. Shooting Star Drones
Over 1,000 shooting star drones designed by Intel flew over the stadium to a nearby slope and formed the shape of a snowboarder. A coordinated group of snowboarders, which was filmed in December due to concerns over unpredictable weather, snowboarded down the slope in formation.
12. Olympics Rings
These same drones them returned to the stadium and formed the Olympic rings. It was a beautiful display of the innovation and creativity that South Korea is so well known for.
13. Yuna Kim
Well known figure skater Yuna Kim had broken several world records, won various World Championships, Grand Prix Finals and medals at the 2010 and 2014 Winter Olympics. One of the most respected athletes in South Korea, Kim was the final torch bearer and after a small skating performance lit the Olympic flame.
14. Just Jerk
The South Korean dance crew Just Jerk performed after the lighting of the Olympic flame, proving that the drones were not the only things innovative, creative and modern in South Korea now.
15. Dancing goblins
The last part of the opening ceremony had performers dressed as goblins and dancing with fire and fireworks close by. It was a testament of the sheer practice, skill and maybe a bit of luck that no one got injured during this last sequence with the dancers so near the fire.
Honorable Mention
After Korea concluded the Parade of Nations, an elderly man performed the roughly 600 year old folk song “Arirang.” It is an unofficial national anthem of both North and South Korea, for citizens of both nations know the song well. It speaks of sorrow, separation, reunion and love, and the song has had many versions and variations through the years. It was the perfect song to represent Korean culture and uphold the theme of unity following the end of the Parade of Nations. It was not included in the list because no picture could be found of the elderly singer.
Photos Courtesy of the International Olympic Committee, Getty Images, Sean Haffey, Jae C. Hong, Reuters and Intel