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S Korea’s ‘Peace Olympics’ meets backlash at home

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Jung Ha-Won -


South Korea’s efforts to bring the North to its Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang next month are provoking a backlash among its people.


Many are fuming over what they see as exploitation of the South’s own athletes for political purposes, and accusing President Moon Jae-In’s government of making too many concessions to please its hostile neighbour.


Protesters burned an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in Seoul on Monday, along with the North’s flag, even as a Pyongyang pop singer concluded a trip to the South to prepare for concerts at the time of the Games.


In a flurry of sporting diplomacy, the two Koreas agreed this month that the North would attend the Games, the two would march together under a unification flag at the opening ceremony, and they would form a joint female ice hockey team.


Under the terms, 12 North Koreans will be added to the 23-strong South Korean squad, with 22 of them — the same size as other countries’ teams — chosen to take part in each game, including at least three North Koreans.


But the deal is being widely criticised for “robbing” Southern athletes of opportunities to compete at the Olympics in a bid to stage what many describe as a hurriedly-coordinated political show.


A survey earlier this month found 73 per cent of South Koreans saw no need for a joint team.


Sports should be free from politics, Seoul’s conservative Dong-A daily said in an editorial on Monday.


Seoul media live-streamed every move of the visit on Sunday and Monday of the North Korean cultural delegation led by Hyon Song-Wol, the leader of Pyongyang’s Moranbong girlband.


But the trip was met with largely frosty response on the Internet, where many asked: “Is this Pyeongchang Olympics or Pyongyang Olympics?”


“The North is not only getting a free ride to the event we worked so hard to prepare, but also parading this woman like a visiting queen doing us a favour,” said one online user.


Many now accuse the dovish president of pandering to Pyongyang.


Moon’s office on Sunday defended its peace gestures, describing them as “necessary” to forge peace and create a much-needed buzz over a Games that have failed to stir much excitement.


“The Pyeongchang Olympics would not only achieve inter-Korea reconciliation, but also offer a lead towards easing tension on the peninsula and forging peace,” it said. — AFP


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