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The 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, captivated audiences from all over the world. Millions watched as athletes shattered records, fought for gold, and achieved the impossible. From US skater Mirai Nagasu's historic triple axel to the re-ignited Russian doping scandal, the Olympics marked many key milestones in the athletic world. The most remarkable moment of the Olympics, however, happened before the athletic contests had begun, when North and South Koreans marched together at the Opening Ceremony
The Korean flag billowed in the open air of the stadium, its meaning weighing heavily on the athletes who still waved it with pride. The flag bearers, Won Yun-jong of South Korea and Hwang Chung-gum of North Korea, led their respective delegations. The athletes marched behind the image of a united Korea, a bright blue emblem on the white flag that brought them together. As the athletes made their way through the stadium, their leaders shook hands. The opening ceremony symbolized political aspirations that had begun to seem impossible. The Games, however, would reveal the many struggles that stood in the way of that goal.
In January, North and South Korea announced the merging of their women's hockey teams into a single Korean team. With less than a month to prepare for the Olympics, both teams struggled to navigate the strategic barriers that came with competing together. The biggest obstacle to unifying the hockey teams was the linguistic barrier between them. Despite, the optimism of the players and the unwavering support of the South Korean audience, the inability to communicate cost the Korean hockey team Olympic success.
Decades of complete separation between North and South Korea have manifested themselves in drastic differences between the Korean dialects of the two countries. It seems, however, that both nations may be beginning to consider moving towards reunification. South Korea, especially, has a stake in pursuing a united Korea, as the North poses a significant military threat to them. But if the linguistic barrier cost the Korean women's hockey team a medal, is reintegrating North Koreans into South Korean society at all feasible?
A Background of Mounting Tensions
The athletic fanfare couldn't shroud the brewing tensions between the United States, North Korea, and South Korea. Military stalemate between North and South...