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MU student from South Korea proud of home country's Olympics


Jiwon Choi is a student at the University of Missouri from South Korea. Choi said she is incredibly proud of her home country's current ability to host the Olympics. (Caileigh Peterson/KRCG){p}{/p}
Jiwon Choi is a student at the University of Missouri from South Korea. Choi said she is incredibly proud of her home country's current ability to host the Olympics. (Caileigh Peterson/KRCG)

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Jiwon Choi moved to the United States from South Korea in 2016 to complete her Master's degree at the University of Missouri.

Choi said she remembered the day the nation found out it would host the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"It was really exciting when the IOC announced there would be the Pyeongchang Olympics. When people think of South Korea, they think of Seoul, so I am excited for them to see a new part of our country," Choi said.

Choi said the formation of a blended South and North Korean Women's hockey team could open the door for necessary conversation.

"We don't really talk to them. I think what the Olympics does is they bring countries together. This might be an opportunity for the two countries to talk and lead to more helpful conversations in the future," Choi said.

She said watching her home country host the games has given her a sense of pride.

"I'm really proud of my country that they have been doing and preparing for the Olympics so well. I am very proud of the athletes, the volunteers, and a lot of other people in my country who have tried so hard to put a lot of effort into making sure the Olympics are going well and succeed," she said.

Many of Choi's American friends have asked her more about her home country as the Olympics have aired.

"My American friends keep asking me about my country and it makes me proud. I'm excited they want to learn more about my country," Choi said.

Choi said she is experiencing a new way of watching the Olympics since being in America.

"It's fun to listen to the American announcers. Usually I just hear the South Korean announcers talking about our athletes," the MU student said. "Now, I'm hearing the American announcers talk and it's like I'm watching the games from a totally different point of view."

Choi said her family in South Korea is enjoying watching the games together.

"My family is all getting together to watch the games and they're very excited especially when the Opening Ceremonies were on," Choi said.

The South Korean native said she is disappointed she is not in her home country while the games are in action.

"It's a bummer. A lot of my friends were at the Opening Ceremony and it would have been so cool to see it in person," she said. "I know it would have also been really cool to be in Pyeongchang to see everyone from across the world in my country."


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