ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT

COUNTRY REPORTS ARCHIVE

Researching the impact of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games on South Korea

Rob Newman, Senior Product Manager

Research topic – Korea and the 1988 Seoul Olympics

• We can use Economist Intelligence Unit Country Reports Archive to

examine the impact of the hosting of the Olympic Games in Seoul in

1988 on the politics, international relations and economy of South

Korea.

• Seoul was chosen as host for the

1988 Olympics in a vote in 1981.

• The Games were ultimately a

success with a record number of

countries participating, despite a

boycott from North Korea and a few

other countries.

EIU Country Reports Archive

• Economist Intelligence Unit Country Reports Archive includes

quarterly reports covering around 200 countries from 1952-95

• These detailed, unbiased reports and analysis of political and

economic developments are a great source for researching this

topic.

Quarterly Economic Review of South Korea First Quarter

1982

The EIU noted the awarding of

the 1988 Olympics to Seoul in

the Q1 1982 report.

The EIU analyst noted the

potential economic and political

benefits, but also warned about

the required expenditure and

the risk the Games could be

marred by the non-participation

of Communist countries.

President Chun also put forward

proposals for reunification of

Korea at this time, which the

report suggested “are in part

designed to create the

conditions in which a North

Korean team will participate”.

Quarterly Economic Review of South Korea Fourth Quarter

1983

On October 9 1983 several

senior members of the South

Korean government were killed

in a bomb in Rangoon intended

to assassinate President Chun.

North Korean officers were

identified as responsible. While

ending any hope of

rapprochement with North

Korea, there was no military

retaliation which might have

jeopardized relations with China

or the Soviet Union.

Country Report. South Korea Third Quarter 1986

North Korea demanded that

Pyongyang should act as joint

host, but got no support from

China or the Soviet Union. A

compromise proposal put

forward by the International

Olympic Committee where a

few events would be held in

Pyongyang was ultimately

rejected, but there was no

general boycott by other

Communist countries.

Country Report. South Korea Third Quarter 1987

President Chun’s government fell in June 1988 faced with protests

demanding direct elections for the presidency. The fear that violent protests

and the imposition of martial law would disrupt the Olympics played a part in

the peaceful outcome and South Korea’s transition to a more democratic

system.

Country Report. South Korea Third Quarter 1987

Economically, the EIU was

forecasting a slowdown in the

rapid recent GDP growth for

1988, but that earnings from the

Olympic Games would take the

export growth rate up to 6%.

There are detailed economic

statistics and forecasts in each

report which would facilitate a

fuller analysis. All statistical

tables can be downloaded as

spreadsheets.

Country Report. South Korea Fourth Quarter 1988

The Olympics proved to be a

success with no disruption or

major boycott, and resulted in

improved relations and trade

with China. The economic

forecast for 1988 was revised

upwards.

Further reading

• Continue to track South Korean economic performance after the

1988 Olympics using the Country Reports from 1989 to 1995.

• Examine the reports on China, North Korea and the USSR from the

same period to see how their policy and relations with South Korea

were shaped in response to the Olympics.

• Compare the impact of the Seoul Olympics with the 1992 Olympic

Games in Barcelona using the Country Reports on Spain.

• Use other ProQuest resources such as historical newspapers for

additional perspectives and detail.