The hosting of Olympic Games holds a certain allure for many countries due to a myriad of intangible benefits like global visibility, national pride and cultural exchange, which often precede the tangible, more measurable economic impacts. While the construction of new infrastructure and potential boost in tourism and international investment can be significant, the crucial question remains whether these economic advantages justify the enormous investments required.
How 1988 Olympics shaped Korea s architecture and design
Posted : 2021-01-09 09:22
Updated : 2021-01-14 20:40
Installation view of Olympic Effect: Korean Architecture and Design from 1980s to 1990s at the MMCA Gwacheon / Courtesy of MMCA
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Though held over 30 years ago, the 1988 Seoul Olympics left many legacies in the city from the Seoul Olympic Stadium and the Olympic rings adorning walls of the riverside expressways of Seoul to the downtown skyline on the Olympic marathon course and the industrialization of the design and architectural process. Olympic Effect: Korean Architecture and Design from 1980s to 1990s, a new exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Gwacheon (MMCA), examines Korea s modern architecture and design before and after the country s first major international sporting event.