North Korean Cheer Squad at PyeongChang: The Meetup That Stroked the Spotlights — and the Fans’ Eyebrows
When the 2018 Winter Games rolled into PyeongChang, a squad of more than 200 North Korean cheerleaders strode onto the Olympic pic from the front of the room, wearing red jackets, winter hats, and smiles that danced a little too brightly.
“We’re Here to Show the Human Side” — the Mission
- All late‑teen or early‑20‑something, picked from top universities.
- Background‑checked ten times, then choreographed to cheer, clap, wave and sing traditional tunes.
- Led by the idea: “We North Koreans aren’t just war robots clutching leader speeches.”
Andrei Lankov, professor at Seoul’s Kookmin University, was almost nostalgic: “At 15‑year‑old, the squad was a massive sensation. Now? Not so much.” He measured the new feelings, noting some fans felt the squad was more “playful” and others the packing of uniforms backed it up.
Flight of the Cheerperformers — Off‑site Adventures
- Aside from the stadium, they took beach strolls, walked through local museums, and even gave street‑concerts. Yes, “street” can mean somewhere on the counterintuitive counterfactual side of the road.
- Each outing was a one‑note chorus: they always moved in a single block, to the toilet, even.
- Security agents tagged each movement, ensuring no unsolicited chat or unplanned interruptions.
Their loose schedule was cut short by buses that whisked them back to the hotel in Inje Speedium, some 120km away from the main venues. “No interaction with guests,” a hotel spokesman said, while a dozen South Korean police kept watch over the entrances.
The Constant “Nice to Meet You” — The One‑Shot Reply
When an interviewer from the local press asked about their thoughts on the Games, the squad’s response was almost a litany: “Nice to meet you.” That single sentence was unsurprising; it mirrored the more crippling “Not all tourists are welcome.” security nuance. Even after a full day of tasks, they were pressed onto buses an instant after a schedule ended.
Why the Size of the Umbrella Matters and The Defect Hazard
- Both North and South authorities monitor each other’s political, economic, and social activities.
- 1000+ people from the North have defected to South over the long decades since the Korean War.
- That leads to “defection risk,” a half‑thick serious problem that could damage the diplomatic energy for both sides.
Defecting in the Games would be a cataclysm, “a massive political disaster” for both North and South, Lankov warned. That’s why the 200 cheerleaders are treated like “containers” for the shifting political subtlety.
Short Summary — Cheer at PyeongChang
In short, the squad showed off some sternly inspected unity and a heavy shield of secrecy. Their presence at the Games functioned like an awkward brand the North treated as a “human Beethoven” but offered limited capabilities to meet the newly built “South Korea and heart” approach. And so the Olympics ended with a worship that left the North’s white winter suits, red jackets, and bright smiles: no triumphic, no complete victory. We must go forward, and we’re sure we persuade.
