Since the 1972 Munich Games, mascots have been a regular fixture at the Olympics with each host country selecting something that reflects its particular culture. And for South Korea, that honor went to a white tiger that was named Soohorang. Today is Valentine's Day and Soohorang clearly has plenty of admirers who are clamoring to have pictures taken with it and get a piece or two of candy.

While many might have the view the feline as a fearsome beast, that's not the case for the white tiger in South Korea, where it is a familiar figure in Korean folktales as a symbol of trust, strength and protection. This was not the first time that South Korea had chosen a tiger for a mascot: when the the country hosted its first Olympic Games in 1988 in Seoul, an orange Amur tiger named "Hodori" was used as the mascot.

Now in 2018, it's Soohorang's turn. The name of the animal is also significant as Sooho is the Korean word for protection while Rang means tiger and appears in "Jeongseon Arirang," the traditional folk music of Gangwon Province where PyeongChang is located, while its white color connects to the snow and ice of winter sports. Soohorang has been a hit everywhere it goes, capturing the attention of children, adults, spectators, athletes, and even security personnel.

Being a symbol of the Olympics is no easy task as Soohorang is in constant demand, and with Feb. 14 being Valentine's Day, that meant some extra work as the tiger made its way around the Main Press Center dispensing hugs, posing for pictures, and handing out candies to the people telling the stories of the 23rd Winter Games.