Is Korea still a shrimp between whales?
England is a lion. Russia is a bear. China a dragon. America an Eagle. And so on. But what about Korea? What animal best represents the people and the culture? One of my favourite stories comes from Lee Tae-woong’s fabulous KBS documentary on the 1988 Olympics. The country had to choose an official mascot for the event. Something that would be made into toys and posters and spread around the…
In 1988, South Korea faced the task of selecting an official mascot for the Olympic Games. With a variety of options, ranging from ginseng and Silla crowns to Cheomseongdae, Goryeo pottery, and even jangseung, a committee secretly favored a rabbit. During that time, Korea's image was vastly different from the modern, glitzy Gangnam district.
Instead, Korea was remembered for its political repression during the Gwangju uprising and the three decades of authoritarian rule that preceded it. The committee hoped that a rabbit, known for its approachability, friendliness, and cuteness, would soften Korea's image. They believed that the rabbit mascot would make the country appear more endearing and inviting to the world.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Is Korea still a shrimp between whales? koreatimes.co.kr
