hankyoreh

A mythical Korean creature composed of a bird with a human face called, “Inmyunjo” captured attention during the opening ceremony for the Pyeongchang Olympics. The figure, which was created by artist Bae Il-hwan, symbolizes the meeting of human beings and the sky, and man’s hope for longevity. Two such figures, Manse and Cheonchu, originally appeared on the wall of a Deokheung-ri tomb from the Goguryeo Kingdom (37 BC – 668 AD) that was discovered in 1976. The tombs are located in the Gangseo district of Nampo, South Pyongan Province in North Korea.

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