The Olympic flame was carried by a Navy official on Munmu the Great, the first time in history an Olympic torch relay has taken place on a Navy destroyer, according to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee. (Image: Yonhap)
CHANGWON, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korea’s Navy joined the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics torch relay in Changwon on Tuesday.
The Olympic flame was carried by a Navy official on Munmu the Great, the first time in history an Olympic torch relay has taken place on a Navy destroyer, according to the PyeongChang Organizing Committee.
South Korea’s Navy joined the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics torch relay in Changwon on Tuesday. (Image: Yonhap)
Representing the Navy as a torchbearer was Lieutenant Commander Kim Gyu-hwan, who played a key role in a successful rescue mission involving South Korean crewmen who were kidnapped by Somali pirates in 2011.
Kim was accompanied by two members of the Underwater Demolition Team as he arrived at Munmu the Great, where he was greeted by over 200 navy personnel.
Despite harsh weather that required the torch to be relit three to four times, Kim kept a smiling face as he soldiered on while waving his hand.
“It’s very meaningful to carry the torch near the sea in Jinhae, which is the main stage and base of the Navy. I’m glad I had this opportunity to raise awareness of Changwon City and the Navy to many people,” Kim said.
Representing the Navy as a torchbearer was Lieutenant Commander Kim Gyu-hwan, who played a key role in a successful rescue mission involving South Korean crewmen who were kidnapped by Somali pirates in 2011.(Image: Republic of Korea Navy)
The torch relay for PyeongChang Olympics is set to continue in South Gyeongsang Province until November 17, with a total of 467 torchbearers expected to run 297.6 kilometers in the region alone.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
