View source for Biology:Soohorang and Bandabi

{{Short description|Official mascots of the 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea}}{{Infobox
|above   = Soohorang and Bandabi
|image   = [[File:Soohorang_and_Bandabi.svg|200px]]
|caption = Soohorang (left), the mascot of the Olympics, and Bandabi (right), the mascot of the Paralympics
|headerstyle  = background:#dde8ff;
|labelstyle   = background:#fed;
|header1 = Mascots of the 2018 Winter Olympics and 2018 Winter Paralympics (Pyeongchang)
|label2  = Creator
|data2   = 
|label3  = Significance
|data3   = A [[Biology:White tiger|white tiger]] and an Asiatic black bear
}}
{{Infobox Korean name
| hangul    = <small>수호랑 and 반다비</small>
| rr        = Suhorang <small>and</small> Bandabi
| mr        = Suhorang <small>and</small> Pandabi
| koreanipa =
| context   =
| image     = 
| caption   = 
}}

'''Soohorang''' ({{lang-ko|수호랑}}) is the official mascot of the 2018 Winter Olympics, and '''Bandabi''' ({{lang-ko|반다비}}) is the official mascot of the 2018 Winter Paralympics. Both events were held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon, {{wipe|South Korea}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pyeongchang2018.com/en/pyeongchang2018/olympics/mascot/index|title=The Official Mascots for PyeongChang 2018|accessdate=30 May 2017|website=pyeongchang2018.com}} </ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-hOoU5Umks|title=PyeongChang 2018 First Episode of Mascot Animation Video|publisher=YouTube|date=25 October 2016|accessdate=30 May 2017}}</ref> Soohorang is a [[Biology:White tiger|white tiger]] and Bandabi is an Asiatic black bear.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/media/pressRelease_view.asp?hb_Mode=readArticle&hb_BoardManager_ID=BDENAA01&hb_BoardItem_ID=61676|title=PyeongChang 2018 Mascots Emoticonized in Free Texting Service|author=Pyeongchang2018|website=The PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games|accessdate=22 September 2016|archive-date=23 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923094033/http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/media/pressRelease_view.asp?hb_Mode=readArticle&hb_BoardManager_ID=BDENAA01&hb_BoardItem_ID=61676|url-status=dead}}</ref> The mascots were selected through a national tender process held in 2014 and were approved of by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on June 2, 2016.

==Selection==
On June 27, 2014, the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee notified the public of their mascot selection contest.<ref>{{cite web|title=2018평창동계올림픽대회 및 장애인동계올림픽대회 마스코트 아이디어 공모|url=http://pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/kor/page/sub06/sub06_05.asp?hb_Mode=readArticle&hb_BoardItem_ID=58314&hb_BoardManager_ID=BDEEAA01&hb_PageNum=1&hb_SearchItem=&hb_SearchWord=|access-date=2016-08-11|archive-date=2014-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717175630/http://pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/kor/page/sub06/sub06_05.asp?hb_Mode=readArticle&hb_BoardItem_ID=58314&hb_BoardManager_ID=BDEEAA01&hb_PageNum=1&hb_SearchItem=&hb_SearchWord=|url-status=dead}}</ref> The selection process took place from September 15, 2014 to September 30, 2014. On June 2, 2016, the International Olympic Committee approved the mascots for the games.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.olympic.org/news/meet-soohorang-the-new-mascot-for-pyeongchang-2018|title=Meet "Soohorang," the New Mascot for PyeongChang 2018|work=[[Social:Olympic Games|Olympics]]|date=2 June 2016|accessdate=22 September 2016}}</ref>

==Characteristics==
[[File:Minhwa-Tiger and magpie-03.jpg|140px|thumb|left|Horang-i (tiger) and Kkachi (magpie)]]

=== Soohorang ===
Soohorang is the mascot of the 2018 Winter Olympics. "Sooho" means "protection" in Korean, symbolizing the protection offered to the athletes, participants and spectators at the Winter Olympics, as well as preserving the world peace that is the spirit of the Olympic Games. "Rang" derives from "Ho-rang-i", the Korean word for "tiger"; it is also the last letter of "Jeongseon Arirang", a cherished traditional Korean folk song of Gangwon Province.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/kor/mascot/mascot.asp|title=마스코트 {{!}} 2018 평창 동계올림픽대회 및 동계패럴림픽대회|website=www.pyeongchang2018.com|language=ko|access-date=2018-03-24|archive-date=2016-06-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605064640/http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/kor/mascot/mascot.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=http://sports.naver.com/general/news/read.nhn?oid=001&aid=0008447508|title=평창동계올림픽 마스코트는 백호(白虎) '수호랑'|access-date=2018-03-24|language=ko}}</ref>

Soohorang took its motif from the [[Astronomy:White Tiger (China)|white tiger]], known as "baekho" in Korean, which is considered to be Korea's sacred guardian animal. Its colour is also indicative of the snow and ice of winter sports.

Tigers have long been a notable aspect of Korean folklore and culture. Baekho, the white tiger, is described in myths and narratives as a divine imaginary animal that watches over the mountains and nature. A cultural symbol for prosperity and protection, Baekho is revered as a god who cares for humanity, praying for the peace and well-being of the village in Korean folklore, while maintaining the continuity of [[Biology:Hodori|Hodori]] which was the mascot of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.<ref name=":3" /> It has also been noted that Baekho is in harmony with the Winter Games that take place in "the white fields of snow".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sports.naver.com/general/news/read.nhn?oid=076&aid=0002940190|title=평창동계올림픽 마스코트, 백호 형상화한 '수호랑' 확정|access-date=2018-03-24|language=ko}}</ref>

In summary, Soohorang is full of "passion and enthusiasm" and "a strong personality that protects the people who participate in the Olympics."<ref name=":2" />

=== Bandabi ===
Bandabi is the mascot of the 2018 Winter Paralympics.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> It is a symbol of will and courage. "Banda" means "half-moon" or a "half-moon beast", and "bi" means to celebrate the competition.<ref name=":2" />

Bandabi is a warm-hearted friend who "has strong will and courage, is at the forefront of equality and harmony," and supports the enthusiasm of the players in the Paralympics so that they can overcome their limitations.<ref name=":2" />

Bandabi also has a continuity with Gomdoori, which was a mascot at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=001&aid=0009657123|title=[카드뉴스] 올림픽의 얼굴, 마스코트에 숨은 비밀|access-date=2018-03-24|language=ko}}</ref>

==Media==
===Emoticons===
Soohorang and Bandabi are available as animated emoticons in [[Software:KakaoTalk|KakaoTalk]], a popular messaging, texting, or communication application in South Korea.<ref name=":0" />

==Reception==
The public reception to the mascots has been described as overwhelmingly positive. According to Hannah Keyser, a writer for sports news website ''Deadspin'', the mascots could be found "everywhere" during the Olympics, and they were "surprisingly universally beloved".<ref name="deadspin">{{cite web |last1=McQuade |first1=Dan |title=Will Japan's Olympic Mascot Be A Soohorang Or An Izzy? |url=https://deadspin.com/will-japan-s-olympic-mascot-be-a-soohorang-or-an-izzy-1823406254 |website=Deadspin |publisher=Gizmodo Media Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301004148/https://deadspin.com/will-japan-s-olympic-mascot-be-a-soohorang-or-an-izzy-1823406254 |archive-date=1 March 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=12 July 2018 |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> Dan McQuade, another writer for ''Deadspin'', commented that it will be difficult for Miraitowa and Someity to match the popularity of Soohorang and Bandabi.<ref name="deadspin" />

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:2018 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Torch & Mascots,NMKCH.jpg|Torch & Mascots
File:2018 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Mascots 02,NMKCH.jpg|Olympic materials
File:2018 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Mascots 01,NMKCH.jpg|Mascots souvenir

File:2018 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Promotion material 02.jpg|Olympic promotion materials
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[Biology:Hodori|Hodori]] – the mascot of the 1988 Summer Olympics in [[Place:Seoul|Seoul]], South Korea
* Tigers in Korean culture

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Official|http://www.pyeongchang2018.com/horizon/eng/mascot/mascot.asp}}

{{S-start}}
{{Succession box|title=''Olympic mascot''<br />Soohorang|before=Vinicius|after='''Miraitowa'''|years=''Pyeongchang 2018''}}
{{Succession box|title=''Paralympic mascot''<br />Bandabi|before=Tom|after='''Someity'''|years=''Pyeongchang 2018''}}
{{S-end}}


{{Sourceattribution|Soohorang and Bandabi}}