The Pyeongchang mascot, known as Soohorang, is a white tiger. Soohorang was chosen as the official mascot of the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The mascot represents the unique culture and spirit of South Korea. The white tiger holds a special place in Korean mythology and is considered a guardian animal. It is believed to bring good luck, protection, and strength. Soohorang embodies these qualities and represents the determination, courage, and passion of the athletes participating in the games.

[PyeongChang 2018] Meet the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics mascots: Soohorang and Bandabi

At every Olympic Game, there is a unique mascot which bolsters Olympic spirit while promoting the culture and values of the event’s host city and country.

And in South Korea, a white tiger named Soohorang and an Asiatic black bear named Bandabi will each be representing the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games set to kick off in PyeongChang this week.

There is a rich symbolism and culture behind the two animals, which are closely associated with Korean traditional folklore and mythology.

Bandabi (left) and Soohorang (right) characters are featured during a PyeongChang Olympics promotion event at the Lotte World amusement park in southeastern Seoul. (Yonhap)

Soohorang takes its motif from the white tiger, long considered to be a sacred guardian animal in Korea. Its white fur also links the animal to many of the snow and ice sports in the Winter Games.

As for its name, “Sooho,” meaning protection in Korean, symbolizes the protection offered to the athletes, spectators and other participants of the 2018 Games.

“Rang” comes from the middle name of “Ho-rang-i,” the Korean word for “tiger” and is also the last letter of “Jeong-seon A-ri-rang,” a traditional folk song of Gangwon Province, where the Games will be held, according to the Olympics website.

“Soohorang not only has a challenging spirit and passion, but is also a trustworthy friend who protects the athletes, spectators and all the participants of the Olympic Games,” the website reads.

Moreover, Soohorang is not the first tiger to serve as an Olympic mascot in Korea. During the 1988 Seoul Summer Games, an orange Amur tiger named Hodori was the official mascot.

Alongside the white tiger mascot, Bandabi the Asiatic bear has been tapped as the mascot for the 2018 Paralympic Games in PyeongChang.

In Korea, a bear has traditionally symbolized strong will and courage, which aligns with the Olympic spirit. The Asiatic bear in particular is also the symbolic animal of Gangwon Province which houses PyeongChang and the Olympic venues.

As for the name “Bandabi,” the word “banda” comes from “bandal” meaning “half-moon” to reflect the white crescent shape found on the chest of the Asiatic black bear. “Bi” is a suffix in Korean that stands for the celebration of something. In this case, it’s the Paralympics.

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has set up official merchandise stores selling Soohorang and Bandabi goods across Seoul as well as the Olympic venues across PyeongChang and its surrounding regions.

Sad truth about adorable Olympics mascot

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Bandabi the Asiatic black bear (or moon bear) is one of the cute and cuddly mascots of the PyeongChang Games — along with Soohorang the white tiger — but not everything about the creature is so heartwarming.

In a cruel irony, moon bears are kept on farms in South Korea so their bile can be harvested for use as a traditional medicine. Speaking to USA Today, CEO of Animals Asia Jill Robinson said approximately 1,000 moon bears are on Korean farms.

With Bandabi a star of the Winter Olympics, Robinson hopes more attention will be drawn to the plight of moon bears in the country.

“It’s our hope that the cute and cuddly cartoon moon bear mascot named ‘Bandabi’ will serve as an ambassador of sorts for actual moon bears in South Korea, whose lives are anything but idyllic and cute,” Robinson said.

“Bear farming is an extremely cruel and inhumane practice that has no place in modern society.”

Bear farming also occurs in China and Vietnam, which has contributed to the species’ declining population. Per USA Today, Korean law allows moon bears (who have a life expectancy of about 25) to be killed at age 10 so bile can be harvested.

According to the PyeongChang organizing committee in 2016, one of the reasons the moon bear was chosen as a mascot is that it is a symbol of the Gangwon Province, in which PyeongChang is located.

Meet 'Soohorang': Pyeongchang's Mascot For The 2018 Winter Olympics

The Olympics has a long history of mascots. Many are cute animals. Others are . something else.

Meet Soohorang: this year's very cute and very fearsome mascot for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

With a look inspired by white tigers, designers developed Soohorang with South Korean culture and lore in mind. In describing the character, the International Olympic Committee says, "The white tiger has long been considered Korea's guardian animal."

South Korea's affinity for tiger mascots has been represented in past Olympics. The last time the country hosted the Summer Games in 1988, its mascot was the tiger Hodori. Wearing a traditional Korean hat and the Olympic rings, he was selected from more than 4,000 mascot entries.

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Hodori and Soohorang, like many other past Olympics mascots, are clearly inspired by culturally significant animals. But other countries' past mascots haven't always been so obvious.

Take for example Wenlock and Mandeville, the mascots for the 2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in London. At first glance, the creatures look like one-eyed humanoid blobs, but they were actually designed to look like a drop of steel used to build the Olympic Stadium. The mascots were selected over a humanized pigeon, an animated teacup and Big Ben — if Big Ben had arms and legs.

Now, as weird and as blobby as Wenlock and Mandeville might look, their design is arguably simpler than Izzy the mascot for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

If you're asking yourself, "What is it?," you're actually on the right track. Izzy was originally named "Whatizit." He's not an animal, a human figure or even an object, but instead, "a product of information technology."

Former officials with the 1996 Olympics told Atlanta Magazine some people were horrified with the design, but somehow, the strange creature still managed to make money from merchandise. At the end of the day, that's probably all that really matters.

Soohorang embodies these qualities and represents the determination, courage, and passion of the athletes participating in the games. The name Soohorang combines two Korean words: "soo" meaning protection, and "horang-i" meaning tiger. Together, they symbolize the powerful protection that the mascot provides to both the athletes and the spectators.

Soohorang is depicted as a friendly and charismatic white tiger, wearing a traditional Korean hat called "baegwan" and a vivid blue and white Olympic suit. The look is carefully designed to showcase the traditional Korean culture while incorporating modern elements. The choice of a white tiger as the mascot also holds historical significance. The last time South Korea hosted the Olympics in 1988, the iconic mascot was Hodori, a playful tiger. Soohorang pays homage to Hodori while adding a fresh and modern twist to the design. The Pyeongchang mascot Soohorang aims to inspire and unite people from all around the world through the power of sports. It serves as a symbol of the warm hospitality of the Korean people and their commitment to making the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics a memorable and successful event..

Reviews for "Exploring Pyeongchang Olympics through Soohorang's Eyes"

1. John - 2 stars

I found the Pyeongchang mascot to be quite underwhelming. The design was confusing and didn't represent the spirit of the Winter Olympics. It lacked creativity and didn't evoke any excitement or enthusiasm. Overall, I was disappointed with the choice of mascot for such a significant event.

2. Sarah - 1 star

I couldn't understand the idea behind the Pyeongchang mascot at all. It looked like a mishmash of different animals with no clear direction. The colors were dull and didn't make it stand out. It didn't capture the attention of viewers or create any sense of connection with the games. I believe they could have done much better in selecting a mascot that truly represented the spirit and energy of the Winter Olympics.

3. Michael - 2 stars

The Pyeongchang mascot was a complete letdown. It lacked personality and didn't have any memorable qualities. The design was forgettable, and I struggled to even remember what it looked like after seeing it. I think a mascot should have the ability to capture the imagination of people, but this one didn't do it for me. It was a missed opportunity to create something truly unique and captivating.

Soohorang's Greatest Moments: Highlights from the Olympics