By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Wendy Palomo from the Philippines
Photos = Wendy Palomo
Seoul l Feb. 16, 2018

How many days has it been since that grand Opening Ceremony at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics? It was grand and impressive in every way, and I'm proud to be living here in Korea at this very festive time.

Sadly, I can't go to Pyeongchang. There are others who can't and don't want to, for various reasons, but we still want to enjoy and get a little of that Olympic spirit. We want to go out of our comfort zone, brave the winter chill and be with the crowd.

Lucky us! There are Live Sites here in Seoul where we can watch Olympic events and have fun and freebies at the same time. I went to some of them over the weekend, and here are some sites to which you can go until the end of the Olympic season.

The KT Pyeongchang Live Site



The KT PyeongChang Live Site is at Gwanghwamun Square. The phone company KT has set-up a temporary tent in the middle of the square so people can gather and watch the Olympic events together. Aside from generously giving warmth to the people inside the tent, there are video game stations showing the VR technology and 5G networks provided by KT. We can also get some freebies when we upload photos to our social media profiles. That explains my posts! My favorite item from KT is the limited edition Olympic torch pen that flames up when turned on.

Behind the KT tent, Norway and the U.K. each have their own spots. Norway had a long line for a sample of its fresh fish and a photo spot where you can hold Norway's fresh tuna, salmon and crab. They will also print the photo for you. The U.K. didn't gather as much interest, but Soohorang and Bandabi, the official mascots, had a long line waiting for their turn for a photo op. The busiest station was Seoul's I.Seoul.U. Just upload a photo of you at one of the designated spots and you get a free I.Seoul.U pin. My friend and I chose a spot outside the tent with Gyeonbukgung Palace and Bughaksan Mountain as the backdrop.

I love what I got from the I.Seoul.U pavilion. For the photo's backdrop, you can choose which tourist spot to use and the staff will kindly print it for you.

Seoul Plaza Igloo



Every winter, Seoul Plaza has an outdoor skating rink. With the Olympics here in Korea, another phone company, SK Telecom, has added to the Olympic spirit. There are three igloos of different sizes beside the skating rink. The smallest igloo is the registration corner.

You have to register for the small rides there, except for the ice jump ride where you just need to wait in line for your turn. There's also a short "Winter Fantasy" show.

These small rides showcase SK Telecom's high-tech phone networks and are mostly in the biggest igloo. There're the Snow Bounce, Snowball Fight and Snow Drift rides. My sons weren't able to go, because of height restrictions or because the available slots had all been filled. There are photo spots all around while waiting for your turn.

The "Winter Fantasy" was a short video and you have to look up to the igloo's white dome ceiling to be able to watch it. The whole inside of the dome serves as the screen.

The medium-sized igloo has the Snow Race. We weren't able to get in, as we arrived late in the afternoon and we were too late for the on-site registration. Our family settled for some photos instead.

The Hyundai Live Site, and the I'm Waiting for Me in Korea Cheering Campaign





The Olympics Live show at the Dongdaemun Design Plaze (DDP) is sponsored by the car company Hyundai. At 6 p.m. every day, it turns on its Light Monument. If you upload a photo of you at the Light Monument to your social media profile, the company will give you a Hyundai souvenir. My sons were happy when I got home.

Since you're already at the DDP, visit the "I am Waiting For Me in Korea Campaign" spot where there's a miniature of the Sangsang Stadium. Figurines of those who helped the campaign are on display. Currently, there are 2,017 figurines. The campaign will draw its 2,018th winner this March. How to participate? Have a photo taken at the booth and upload it to one of your social media platforms. The organizers will choose the winner soon, but the staff didn't exactly tell us the exact date.

That wraps up my Olympic hunting here in Seoul. It's not too late as we still have a few Olympic days remaining. Check out these sites and have your share of fun and Olympic freebies, too.

wisdom117@korea.kr

* This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.