The Story Behind the Two Women Carrying the Olympic Torch Together Will Warm Your Heart

In a Winter Olympics opening ceremony filled with so much symbolism, many may have missed the biggest moment of the entire show — the symbolic dual torchbearers from North and South Korea sharing the honor together. Park Jong-ah of South Korea and Jong Su-Hyon of North Korea shared the honor of handing the torch to Korean Olympic hero Kim, Yuna. Their story is one that many in Korea hope for: unification of the north and south nearly 70 years after war divided the country.

#YunaKim initiative to hold olympic torch all together with both South and North Korea athletes. So proud of her courage, so moved by this majestic moment #PyeongChang2018 #EpicWin #ThisIsHistory #WinterOlympics2018 #NorthKorea #SouthKorea pic.twitter.com/p5KxtwCDKn

— Gabriele Melato (@gabriware) February 9, 2018

The two hockey players are the most decorated on the unified Korean women’s hockey team, with Park as the team captain and Jong being the highest scoring North Korean player in recent memory. Their co-handling of the torch, and their symbolic moment with Korean idol Kim was one of the most exciting moments for many in Korea and abroad.

i was still thinking why i didnt see Kim Yuna and in the end she appeared as the last person in the torch relay so pretty~~

North and South Korea walking together under one unified flag is really touching

— Dong Minnieee💐 (@softmyeonmin) February 9, 2018

GAGOOOO THAT WAS THE PRETTIEST WINTER OLYMPIC OPENING IVE EVER SEEN

SORRY VANCOUVER AND SOCHI BUT SLANSJSJSSNSKA

I SOBBED AT THE TORCH-LIGHTINF CEREMONY GDI NORTH AND SOUTH KOREA

AND QUEEN YUNA

:((((((((((

— richa @ ア二ナナ!!! 🎤 (@swordbreaker06) February 9, 2018

Torch bearers from North and South Korea carrying the flame together. I'm not crying, you're crying! #openingceremony #PyeongChang2018 #CBCOlympics

— Marsha Duggan (@MarshaDuggan) February 9, 2018

Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) have been in a tense back-and-forth. The US military has set up semi-permanent shop in the south, and with rising international tensions, specifically between the Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un and President Donald Trump, the nations are a hotbed of action these days.

During the opening ceremony, VP Mike Pence was in attendance, and seated behind him was North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s sister, who many consider the “Ivanka” of the DPRK, the symbolism of which was something that wasn’t lost on many.

While political tensions seem to be on the rise more than ever before, it’s the athletes who are sharing their time in the spotlight to help pave the way to better communication, and, in the hopes of many Koreans, eventual reunification.

What did you think of the opening ceremonies? Let us know @BritandCo!

(Photo by Valery Sharifulin\TASS via Getty Images)