The 1988 Summer Olympics were held in Seoul, South Korea, and the official mascot for the event was Hodori. Hodori, meaning "little tiger" in Korean, was chosen as the mascot to represent the culture and history of the country. Hodori was designed to resemble a Korean tiger, which is regarded as a symbol of Korea. Tigers are often associated with bravery, strength, and protection in Korean folklore, and Hodori embodied these qualities. The mascot had a friendly and playful demeanor, appealing to both children and adults. Hodori was depicted as a small, orange tiger with a big smile on its face.
Olympic Mascots, Soohorang and Hodori
When I was growing up, my dad had an Olympic Games-branded gym bag he proudly toted, a souvenir from his gig as an interpreter for the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. While Korea has changed unrecognizably in many ways in the three decades since (and the bag was put to rest after two decades of use), the official Olympic mascot for the Games in Korea has returned in 2018 in the form of the same animal—a tiger, named Soohorang.
Mascots are way more than a ponderous bureaucracy’s attempt to lighten up and have more than multi-colored rings to put on knick-knack shelves, they also do some serious work related to branding. Here are four to keep top-of-mind:
- Provide a fun focal point for the consistency that branding requires
- Serve as something distinctive enough to be trademarkable
- The mascot selection process can end up functioning as a test in internal branding/organizational alignment
- Sometimes mascots can even serve as guerrilla marketers
Hodori was depicted as a small, orange tiger with a big smile on its face. It wore a blue hat with the Olympic rings on it, as well as a red scarf around its neck. Its eyes were animated and vibrant, adding to its charm.
Olympic mascots Korean style
With the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games upon us, you may have seen Soohorang, a peppy-looking white tiger. The last time South Korea was host (1988 Summer Olympic Games), a cheerful tiger named Hodori was the Olympic mascot.
So what is it with Korea and tigers? How does the new mascot compare to the old one? What was the thinking behind the designs? If you are curious about any of those questions, you’ll be glad to know that the designers of both Korean Olympic mascots convened in a meeting in December to discuss these very issues. The JoongAng Ilbo interview reveals parts of their thought process as it connects to mascots in a digital age, the role of tigers in the Korean imagination, and place branding.
First, a brief overview of the tiger mascots.
| Soohorang | Hodori |
| Soohorang is the official mascot of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, created based on a white tiger by a team of five Korean design professionals. The name is a combination of the Korean words for guardian/protector (SOO-HO) and tiger (ho-RANG-i) as well as the last syllable of Jeong-Seon A-ri-RANG, a folk song from Gangwon Province where the city of PyeongChang is located. He is often seen with his bear friend, Bandabi, the official mascot of the 2018 Winter Paralympics. | Hodori is the official mascot of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, created by Kim, Hyun. The name is made up of the Korean word for tiger (HO-rang-i) and a common masculine diminutive suffix (DOR-I). The little tiger is wearing a hat traditionally worn while playing pungmul/nongak, a participatory folk art form with percussion and dancing where the long ribbon on the hat is spun around. In his default pose, Hodori’s ribbon spells out an S for Seoul. |
The mascot was seen in various forms during the 1988 Olympics, such as plush toys, figures, and on various merchandise. Hodori's presence was felt throughout the event, bringing a sense of fun and excitement to the spectators. The choice of Hodori as the mascot was significant in promoting the event and creating a connection with the Korean people. As a national symbol, the tiger resonated with the locals, and Hodori became an easily recognizable figure associated with the 1988 Summer Olympics. Overall, Hodori, the 1988 Summer Olympics mascot, played an essential role in celebrating the culture of Korea during the event. Its friendly and inviting nature brought joy to both participants and spectators, leaving a lasting impression on the games' legacy..
Reviews for "Hodori's Big Adventure: Following the Mascot's Exciting Journey throughout the 1988 Summer Olympics"
1. John - 1 star
I was severely disappointed with the design of the 1988 summer Olympics mascot. It was uninspired and lacked creativity. The choice to use a cartoon tiger was unimaginative and unrepresentative of the host country, South Korea. The mascot failed to capture the essence and culture of the nation, which is an important aspect of any Olympic mascot. Overall, it was a forgettable and underwhelming choice that did not live up to the excitement and prestige of the Olympic Games.
2. Sarah - 2 stars
As an avid follower of the Olympics, I was disappointed with the 1988 summer Olympics mascot. The design of Hodori, the cartoon tiger, seemed outdated even back then. It lacked the sophistication and modernity that one would expect from an Olympic mascot. Additionally, the color scheme and overall appearance were not appealing. It failed to create a memorable and engaging experience for spectators and participants alike. I believe that a stronger and more representative mascot could have been chosen to truly embody the spirit of the Games.
3. Mike - 2 stars
I found the 1988 summer Olympics mascot to be lackluster and unimpressive. The choice of a tiger, while significant in South Korean culture, felt generic and overdone. There was nothing unique or memorable about the mascot that set it apart from other Olympic mascots. It failed to create a lasting impact on viewers, and I believe that a mascot should be more than just a cartoon character; it should be a representation of the nation and the event itself. Unfortunately, Hodori fell short in this regard.