Korea is gearing up for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics and the one year countdown
has begun.
From now and then, there will be plenty of events to keep visitors to the area entertained
-- as the Olympic organizing committee kicks off the Culture Olympics, which is designed
to highlight the region's unique cultural traditions.
Lee Ji-won gives us a preview in the first in a three-part series about the PyeongChang
Olympics.
The countdown to February 9th, 2018 is on.
With the PyeongChang Winter Olympics now less than a year away,...
Korea is marking the one-year countdown to the Games with events around the country.
Alongside the test events being held to tryout the facilities and give tourists a preview
of what's to come,... the Olympic organizing committee is also hosting a Culture Olympics
to infuse the Games with elements of Korean culture.
"There is not much difference between the sporting events themselves,... so the Olympics
are very similar whether they're held in Korea, Japan or Europe.
So,... to fulfill our vision for expanding winter sports in Asia and transforming Gangwon-do
Province into a new winter sports tourism destination,... we've organized numerous cultural
festivals highlighting not only Gangwon-do Province but of the whole of Asia as well."
The Culture Olympics got started with a concert at Seoul Arts Center earlier in the week.
From classical musicians and folk singers to a children's choir,... the performers filled
the hall to wish for Olympic success.
And over in Pyeongchang and Gangneung, where most of the Olympic games and ceremonies will
be held,... there are even more festivities lined up over the coming months.
One of these events is the PyeongChang Biennale.
Launched in 2013 to promote the PyeongChang Olympics,... the biennale is now celebrating
its third anniversary.
Presented under the theme "The Five Moons: Return of the Nameless and Unknown"..., inspired
by the five Olympic rings, the event features artworks by some 80 local and foreign artists,
including several Gangwon-do veterans whose works will offer visitors a better understanding
of the province's cultural history.
"Gangwon-do doesn't have many big, international festivals.
But thanks to the Winter Olympics, cultural events have begun to flourish in the region,...including
the PyeongChang Biennale.
After the Olympics end,... we hope the biennale will have cemented its legacy as the region's
representative event."
"Let's have some fun at this festival, where we've gathered to wish for a successful 2018
PyeongChang Winter Olympics "
For visitors seeking more action,... groups from Korea and abroad are presenting performances...
at theaters around Gangneung this month.
The lineup features 55 productions highlighting both regional traditions and new interpretations
of traditional works.
One group from Chuncheon, for example, is presenting a Korean-style opera called "Spring,
Spring" that's based on a short story by renowned local writer Kim You-jeong.
"By incorporating cultural traditions like pansori narrative singing and the Chuncheon
drum dance,... the production is full of opportunities for tourists to experience the culture of
Gangwon-do."
Over in Daegwallyeong Township,... people in costume are having a parade,.. dancing
and playing the kkwaenggwari, a small gong, and the janggu, a drum.
At the end of the parade, the eight eup, or administrative divisions, of Pyeongchang give
presentations on their unique cultural traditions -- from the Sambaesam-gut ritual, where villagers
gather to celebrate a good harvest,.. to the Mount Hwangbyeong-san hunting play,... which
shows how villagers used to hunt wild animals from the mountain.
"It's really cold,... but I am more than happy to participate in the performance as a resident
of the Olympic host county."
"I've visited Gangwon-do a number of times before, but this is the first time I've seen
these unique local presentations."
With the technical preparations nearly complete,... the organizing committee and Gangwon-do Province
governor are now seeking to focus more on organizing quality cultural events and promoting
them to tourists.
"There are currently about 60 cultural festivals lined up... and we will make them grand to
create a sustainable legacy for Gangwon-do Province even after the Olympics end."
Lee Ji-won, Arirang News, Gangneung.