PyeongChang 2018: Blending sports with culture

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In the approach to the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang – just half a month away – South Korea has put in great efforts in building its Cultural Olympiad, a string of varied art events organized around the Games, in the hope of spreading the Olympics spirit more widely.

Starting from January, the cultural festivity of 2018 Winter Olympics can be fully observed in PyeongChang with a wide range of art performances and shows. Visitors are able to engage in Korean artistic traditions either within or outside the Olympic venues.

Nov. 4, 2017: South Koreans perform to celebrate the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games torch relay in Busan, South Korea. /VCG Photo

Earlier this week, a guidebook was published to help visitors easily find information about various cultural side events of the Winter Olympics. Created by South Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Gangwon Provincial Government, the 100-page cultural guidebook was published both in Korean and English for the host city of PyeongChang and the sub-host cities of Gangneung and Jeongseon in Gangwon Province during the Olympics. It explicitly explains all the information on performance, exhibition, experience, education, festival and on-site programs, with a comprehensive list of recommendations for each category.

July 22, 2017: A Korean traditional drum dance to mark the 200-day countdown of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in Chuncheon, South Korea. /VCG Photo

"The cultural programs add another layer of fun to the global sports event by demonstrating the diversity and originality of Korean culture," the Minister of Culture and Sports in South Korea said in a statement released Monday.

Musicians perform during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics torch relay in Seoul, Jan. 16, 2018. /VCG Photo

According to the official PyeongChang 2018 website, the Olympics venue is comprised of two clusters – PyeongChang Olympic Plaza and Olympic Park, with each hosting various cultural events.

The Culture ICT Hall is a converged cultural space in the Olympic Plaza that allows people to appreciate South Korean contemporary art, including paintings and sculptures provided by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Also, the Live Pavilion center has adopted cutting-edge technology for the visitors to enjoy sports in VR, or watch hologram concerts and firework shows in 3D.

Jan. 25, 2018: The recreation center at the athletes' Olympic Village. /VCG Photo

Also, the essence of Korea's traditional culture is featured with different themes in the Traditional Cultural Center in the Plaza. Performances and exhibitions showing the country's intangible cultural heritage, such as dances and lanterns displays, will take place at Hanok, a Korean traditional house.

In Gangneung Olympic Park, an art center was set up for fans of ballet, music, and orchestral performances. It is open to the public and free of charge. Another outdoor program, called Open Stage, offers visitors a chance join a street parade, a Hanbok flashmob, busking and more.

Feb. 15, 2017: Musicians perform during the 2017 PyeongChang Winter Music Festival in the concert hall at the Alpensia Ski Resort in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province. /Yonhap Photo

A series of cultural events is also being held in Seoul, the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. The city's National Museum of Korean Contemporary History has organized an exhibition of collections, materials, pictures, and video footage related to the history of modern Korean sports, as well as historical events, such as the founding of the country.

Besides, a Young Artist Media Art exhibition will be launched to display artworks about the Olympic Games created by young artists, in the Seoul Square building.

Various cultural programs of the Cultural Olympiad of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. /Photo from the official PyeongChang 2018 website

The annual PyeongChang Winter Music Festival will kick off next week in Seoul to embrace the Games. The festival titled "A Musical Salute to PyeongChang" is scheduled to run in Seoul and four cities in Gangwon Province from Jan. 30 to Feb. 16.

With 102 sports events in 15 sport disciplines, the upcoming and highly-anticipated Winter Olympics in PyeongChang will be the first in history to host more than 100 medal events.