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

1. ECONOMIST INTELLIGENCE UNIT
COUNTRY REPORTS ARCHIVE
Researching the impact of the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games on South Korea
Rob Newman, Senior Product Manager

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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”.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.