Part 2 - LA84 Foundation

13. Opening, Closing and
Victory Ceremonies
392
In addition, the performances during
the ceremonies draw the attention of
the world spectators since they are
expected to manifest the idea and goal
of the Games' host through artistic
activities. It is thus no exaggeration to
say that the success and failure of the
Opening and Closing Ceremonies are
directly related to the success and
failure of the Games itself.
The Planning Unit and the
Advisory Committee
The SLOOC formed the Planning Unit
for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies
and the Advisory Committee for
the overall planning of the ceremonies
and the production of a scenario, the
basic formula for the events. The planning
Unit was inaugurated in July
1986. The Unit consisted of 13 persons,
headed by Park Yong-ku, a
music critic. The Unit set the theme of
the Opening and Closing Ceremonies
and worked out the basis for the
production of a scenario.
The Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Planning Unit Members
—————————————–
Park Yong-ku, music and dance critic
Lee O-ryong, Professor, of Ewha Woman's
University
Choi Jong-ho, Professor, Yonsei University
Lee Kang-sook, Professor, Seoul National
University
Byun Jong-ha, Painter
Pyo Jae-soon, Production Director, the
Munhwa Broadcasting Company
Lee Dong-kyu, Member of the Deliberation
Committee, Korean Broadcasting System
Choe Yol-gon, Superintendent, Seoul
Board of Education
Han Yang-soon, Professor, Yonsei
University
Yu Tok-hyong, Dean, Seoul Junior College
of Arts and Music
Oh Tae-sok, Drama Director
Chang Chu-ho Deputy Secretary General
SLOOC
Kim Chi-gon, Assistant Secretary General,
Culture & Ceremonies Operation Unit,
SLOOC
The Advisory Committee was made up
of 37 noted figures from all walks of life
who could render advices concerning
the deliberation and coordination of
matters relating to the production and
operation of the programs for the
Opening and Closing Ceremonies.
The committee, inaugurated on February
5, 1987, was divided into five subcommittees
for planning, performance,
music, art and technology.
From each of the five subcommittees,
one member was chosen to form the
Permanent Advisory Committee for
actual participation in the production
of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies
through coordination and discussion
with the Opening and Closing
Ceremonies Production Unit and
Operation Unit. The committee,
headed by Prof. Han Yang-soon in the
subcommittee for performance, comprised
Lee O-ryong (planning), Kim
Mun-hwan (planning), Byun Jong-ha
(art), Lee Kang-sook (music) and Lee
Sang-su (technology).
Production Unit
The Production Unit was formed upon
the finalization of the scenario for the
Opening and Closing Ceremonies. It
consisted of 138 persons including
one director and two associate directors,
15 choreographers, 22 associate
choreographers, 53 lecturers, 25
instructors and eight assistant
instructors.
Pyo Jae-soon, a member of the board
of directors at Munhwa Broadcasting
Company (MBC), was named director,
and Yu Kyung-hwan and Kim Sangyeol
associate directors.
The choreographers created the
framework of the dance works for the
Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
and supervised the performance and
practice of the performers. The associate
choreographers, under the guidelines
given by the choreographers,
designed the dance works and had the
instructors practice the performers.
The Production Unit was operated
through the production meetings, the
staff meetings and the meetings of
choreographers.
Production Unit:
—————————————–
Director: Pyo Jae-soon
Associate directors: Yu Kyung-hwan, Kim
Sang-yeol
Staff by Division
Music directors: Kim Chung-gill, Kang
Seok-hee
Art director: Lee Man-ik
Audio directors: Kim Pyong-ho, Paik
Wun-choon
Lighting directors: Yoon Jae-duk, Lee
Woo-young
Videoboard director: Chung Soo-wung
Athletes director: Kang Pok-chang
13.2.2
Decision on the Contents of the
Programs
—————————————–
The first thing that should be determined
in producing a scenario for the
Opening and Closing Ceremonies was
the idea and theme of the ceremonies.
To make the ceremonies more than a
passing entertainment and an impressive
occasion that invites five billion
mankind to mutual feelings and meditation,
the theme of the Seoul Olympics,
"Harmony and Progress," should
be explained by a concrete object. The
object was "barriers."
The barriers meant the racial barriers,
ideological barriers and the economic
barriers which stand in the way to
harmony and progress. The Olympic
Games, which had been held twice as
a split event blocked by the ideological
barriers, could turn Korea, a symbol of
division, into a plaza of reconciliation if
only the Seoul Games could draw the
participation of the entire global family.
The Opening and Closing Ceremonies,
therefore, had to present the
world citizens with a heart-moving
panorama starting from the painful
scars of division to the healings, the
growth of new sprouts in the land
where the barriers used to stand.
The theme of the ceremonies was thus
decided as "Beyond All Barriers," and
the scenario was drafted in a way that
best suits the spirit of the theme.
13.2.3
Recruitment of the Performers
—————————————–
Group performers
The SLOOC set up a plan for the
recruitment of the performers for the
effective selection and grouping of
them. The first point which was considered
in setting up the plan was that
the number of the performers should
be fixed to a minimum level and that
the performers should be mobilized
fully for several performances. The
second point was that the high school
students, most of whom are under
heavy pressure for college entrance,
should be saved from being mobilized
for the event as much as possible.
Other principles included that the performers
should be selected from
among those who are recommended
by the pertinent institutions or professionals
so as to diminish problems
which may appear in the course of
mobilizing the students. In staging the
students, those in suburban areas and
provincial schools were encouraged to
join under a notion that the Games
should serve as an opportunity for
national participation.
The student performers were recruited
upon the recommendation of the Education
Ministry and the city and provincial
boards of education through full
consultations. Other performers were
secured on an individual level by the
SLOOC or through consultations with
pertinent organizations and government
offices.
The number of performers who were
recruited under these principles
totalled 13,625 for the Opening
Ceremonies and 6,173 for the Closing
Ceremonies. The number broke down
to 1,400 students from two primary
schools, 8,781 students from 19 high
schools, 1,568 students from 10 colleges
and universities, 907 from 20
professional organizations and 2,844
militarymen from 17 units.
Performers in Opening/Closing
Ceremonies
Primary schools
Samjon Primary School
Midong Primary School
High schools
Toksu Commercial High School
Kyonggi Commercial High School
Tongdaemun Commercial High School
Yoju Agricultural High School
Yongnak High School
Taedong Commercial High School
Kwangshin Commercial High School
Song-il Commercial High School
Seoul Girls Commercial High School
Song-am Girls Commercial
High School
Yongdungpo Girls Commercial
Songnam Girls High School
Chong-ui Girls High School
Kongju Agricultural High School
Haesong Girls Commercial
High School
Nam Seoul Commercial High School
1,200
200
948
468
500
58
937
400
300
300
600
500
High School
800
Yomgwang Girls Commercial High School
800
300
300
300
470
400