□ The Organizing Committee of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and
Paralympics plans to have a total of 39 people serve as special
volunteers, including high-ranking officials, politicians, sports
stars, multicultural families, low-income families and veterans’ families.
□ In consideration of the participation of North Korean athletes in
the Olympics, two of the dispersed families (four people in total)
will serve as special volunteers during the event as symbols of
reconciliation and a peaceful relationship between the two Koreas.
o Son Yang-yeong and Lee Gyeong-pil, who were selected as special
volunteers representing the dispersed families, were born aboard the
SS Meredith Victory which carried North Korean refugees from Heungnam
to Geojedo Island in December 1950 during the Korean War.
o At the time of their birth, US soldiers called the babies
affectionately with such names as ‘Kimchi One’ and ‘Kimchi Two,’ and
the five babies born on the ship came to be called the ‘Kimchi Five.’
o Son Yang-yeong, the first to be born on the ship, and Lee
Gyeong-pil, the fifth, are set to participate in the PyeongChang
Winter Olympics with their wives as special volunteers.
o During the Winter Olympics, they will serve as guides for athletes
for one night and two days with their wives, informing athletes of the
locations of stadiums, et cetera.
o Commenting on his selection, Son Yang-yeong said, “I would not be
here today if not for the special operation carried out to help us
refugees move to the south during the Korean War. I’ve always felt
thankful for those who provided aid in such ways. I volunteered to
serve as a guide during the Winter Olympics to do something for
others. I’d like to show the good hospitality of Koreans and let the
foreign visitors find out about Korea using my English skills.”
