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Cultural Unity Hub

The Tiger호랑이

The most powerful, indigenous, universally-recognized Korean symbol. Claimed by both Koreas. Belonging to all Koreans.

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For over 4,000 years, Korea has been a tiger—fierce, proud, distinctive. Mountains as its spine. Coasts as its claws. Spirit as its roar.

The Tiger in Korean History

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1908: The Resistance Map

Korean intellectual Ch'oe Namsŏn proposed that Korea resembles a tiger "with its paw raised, clawing as it runs towards the Asian continent." This was a direct counter-narrative to Japanese colonizers who depicted Korea as a weak rabbit.

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1988: Hodori

The Seoul Olympics introduced Hodori, the friendly orange Amur tiger mascot, to the world. The tiger became synonymous with modern Korean identity on the global stage.

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2018: Soohorang

PyeongChang Winter Olympics featured Soohorang, the white tiger—a sacred guardian in Korean tradition. Both Koreas marched together under a unified flag during the opening ceremony.

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Both Koreas Claim the Tiger

The DPRK has issued postage stamps showing the peninsula as a tiger. South Korean sports teams feature tiger imagery. The tiger belongs to ALL Koreans. It's not political. It's identity.