By Korea.net PyeongChang Olympics Team
Gangneung | Feb. 21, 2018

The 2018 PyeongChang Cultural Olympiad is attracting athletes, officials and spectators who are in Gangwon-do for the Winter Olympics with special shows and exhibitions.

The Cultural Olympiad is arranged to amuse the fans visiting Korea for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and also to promote Korean heritage and arts.

The theatrical performance "Scent of Thousand’s year" (천년향) staged at the Haeram Culture Hall at Gangneung Wonju University in Gangneung, Gangwon-do Province, is one of the representative programs prepared for the Winter Games.

The show portrays the Gangneung Danoje (강릉 단오제), a ritual in honor of the guardian spirit of the mountain asking it to protect the town from disaster, and includes both traditional dance and traditional gugak music. To help the audience become immersed in the show, it takes place on a stage that is not separated from the seats in the auditorium. The graceful choreography of the actors and dancers, dressed as the moon, a goblin and a crane, captures the eyes of the audience up close.

“I’ve never seen such a colorful stage that also moves my heart,” said Iham Jordan from Panama. “The performers didn’t have any lines, but their facial expressions and gestures made it easier for me to understand Korea better.”

The media-art show “Forest Story Blooming Winter" (청산별곡), which uses the entire pine tree forest at the Gangneung Solhyang Arboretum as the exhibition hall, is also popular among Olympic fans for its beautiful trails decorated with art.

The pine trees are highlighted with many colored-lights, and there are deer and owl sculptures hidden inside the forest. There are also Oriental ink-and-wash paintings drawn on the mountains, and folk tales are projected onto the valleys to wow the tourists.

“Every stages along the trail had interesting stories,” said Julie Sam from Canada. “I enjoyed the folk tale 'Tiger and the Persimmon' the most.”

“It was my day off, so I’m treating myself to the Cultural Olympiad, such as a pop concert and ‘Scent of Thousand’s year,’” said Susan Im from the U.S., a volunteer at the PyeongChang Olympics. “Compared to the state-of-the-art technology, Korea's heritage is not very well-known. Through the Cultural Olympiad, I learned that Korea cherishes its traditions and nurtures its heritage, as well.”

Finally, Gangwon-do Province announced that the accumulated number of visitors to the Cultural Olympiad, which opened on Feb. 3, surpassed 400,000 as of Feb. 19.

“Visitors seemed satisfied with the exciting Winter Games and the festivity of the Cultural Olympiad,” said a province official.

twkim0717@korea.kr