South & North Korea unifying is surely a special sentiment. The two countries remain divided to date following a war that was initiated in the early part of 1950. Thus, when the two countries signed a historic agreement in 2018 for the Winter Olympics, it was one of the biggest news of the moment. Pyeongchang in South Korea hosted the games as athletes from North Korea were welcomed into the country. They crossed the Demilitarized Zone for the first time in years. 

However, what stood out was not the historic occurrence, but a group of supporters. The cheerleading team of North Korea grabbed the spotlight not only with their fabulous performances but also with a political twist. 

Army of Beauties won hearts at the 2018 Winter Olympics

The harmony was reflected as athletes from both nations competed as one in Women’s Ice Hockey. To do this, they had to obtain special permission from the IOC (International Olympic Committee). As many as 23 athletes from South Korea and 12 from North Korea took part in the event. However, in all the other events, both nations participated individually. 

Although the South Korean team took part in every event, North Korean athletes chose cross-country skiing, short-track speed skating, figure skating, and alpine skiing. This is where the supporting team of North Korea came into the scene. The members of the cheerleading team were handpicked and trained to perform the routine at events to cheer up the morale of their team. 

The team had 229 members who won hearts with their excellent performance. They executed each of their routines to perfection and became a sensation at the Winter Olympics 2018. However, amidst the shining light was a dark cloud of concern. 

Fans concerned about the performers 

After the news came out that the entire troop of 229 members was performing unpaid, talks began to emerge about the fairness of the situation. Not only that, the cheerleading team was also under watchful surveillance 24/7. This sparked a huge controversy and the country faced significant backlash. 

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Supporters began to heavily criticize the move. They stated that the cheerleading team had no freedom and they were most probably under threat. Their performance was also under the microscope as people thought that the team was bound to do well as they were pressured by the authorities. 

All in all, amidst all the negative reactions, the Army Of Beauties did steal everyone’s hearts with their stellar performance. There was no confirmation whatsoever about the fact that they were under pressure or not. 

What are your views about the incident? Comment and let us know below. 

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