The Korean national team enters Maracana Stadium on Aug. 5 during the opening ceremony of the 31st Olympic Games, in Rio de Janeiro.
The Olympic cauldron has now been lit for the first time in South America.
With messages about the world's natural resources and climate change, the 31st Olympic Games officially launched on Aug. 6 in Rio de Janeiro.
Even though the Rio Olympics had a lower budget for its opening ceremony than the previous ones in Beijing, London and Sochi, the stadium was filled with lights, fireworks and songs that embraced the spirit of Latin America.
As athletes from 208 participating teams entered the stadium in alphabetical order, they planted seeds for new trees that will eventually grow in the designated Athletes' Forest. Together, the athletes celebrated the start of the 17-day global festival that highlights four years of hard work and effort.
Kim Yeon Koung, captain of the women's national volleyball team, celebrates after scoring a point in the Pool A tournament against Japan on Aug. 6. Korea defeated Japan with a set score of 3-1.
The women's volleyball team was first to bring home news of victory.
The team faced Japan in the very first tournament. Having suffered a sore defeat against the Japanese team at the 2012 London Olympics over third place, Team Korea was resolved to redeem its reputation in Rio. During the first set, which began at 9:30 a.m. local time, the Koreans appeared tense, and lost six points to Japan.
However, the team bounced right back into the game. Kim Yeon Koung, one of the world's best wing spikers, pushed back with powerful strikes, with great team play by Lee Jaeyoung. Riding on Kim's spikes and blocks by Yang Hyo Jin, Team Korea won the second set by 10 points. The winning streak continued through the third and fourth sets, leading to Korea's victory over Japan. Kim Yeon Koung celebrated her team's victory, having personally scored a whopping 30 points.
Korea's first medal was won by Jeong Bokyeong, the "little giant" of Judo.
Jeong competed in the 48 kilogram category, and defeated Mestre Alvarez of Cuba in the semifinals, winning a silver medal. A dark horse in this year's games, Jeong defeated world champion Urantsetseg Munkhbat of Mongolia in the quarterfinals, and rose to prominence in the semifinals.
Ku Bonchan, Kim Woojin and Lee Seungyun of the Korean men's archery team celebrate their gold medal, after defeating the U.S. at the Rio Olympics on Aug. 6.
The Korean men's archery team brought home the first gold this year.
The men's team, comprised of Ku Bonchan, Kim Woojin and Lee Seungyun, defeated the U.S. in the team event with a perfect score of 6-0 and rose to the top of the podium on Aug 6. In the preliminary rounds the day before, Kim Woo-jin set a world record with a score of 700 in the 72-arrow ranking rounds, paving his way to a gold medal.
The Korean women's archery team waves to the crowd at the Sambodromo after winning gold on Aug. 7 at the Rio Olympics. World archery champion Ki Bobae (left) shed tears of joy, standing by her teammates Choi Misun (center) and Chang Hyejin.
The Korean women's archery team, having spent the previous day showing support for the men's team, followed suit with gold medals on Aug. 7.
Ki Bobae, Choi Misun and Chang Hyejin of the women's archery team won the team gold, beating Russia 5-1 in the final. Since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the Korean women's archery team has now won its eighth straight gold medal, extending its Olympic reign.
In the men's 66 kilogram judo, An Baul won a silver medal. Weightlifter Yoon Jin Hee, whose husband will compete in the 69 kilogram weightlifting event, brought home a bronze medal in the women's 53 kilogram event.
As of Aug. 7, Korea stands in fourth place in the overall rankings, with two gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
By Jeon Han, Lee Hana Korea.net Staff Writers Photos: Yonhap News hanjeon@korea.kr