2018 Winter Olympics: North Korean Cheering Squad Steals The Spotlight, Everything You Need to Know About the Group

Stars are born in the ongoing 2018 Winter Olympics but not only from the thousands of athletes who compete in the games. It's the North Korean cheering squad. The all-female group continues to steal the spotlight in the PyeongChang Olympics whenever they appear in a game and show off their oddly synchronized routines. 

The North Korean cheering squad never set foot on the actual competition stage but they are dominating the Olympics' newsfeed by storm. The 230-member squad has already made headlines that overshadowed even the 24 athletes the country have sent to compete with South Korea. How did Kim Jong-un choose the members of the squad? Here's everything you have to know about this group that has been going viral on Twitter since they arrive in the south.

Strict Criteria

They are called "The Army of Beauties" but beauty is just the second qualification in the strict criteria of picking the cheerleading squad of NK. Apparently, on top of the list is their patriotism. All of the ladies undergone strict background tests to determine how loyal they are to their country.  Anyone with a family history of defecting or attempting to defect, or if the candidate herself is suspected of being disloyal to North Korea, will be immediately disqualified from joining the group.

In addition, she must be over 5"3' tall and come from good families. The qualifications also include the "natural" beauty look of each member of the squad. All of the ladies are in their late teens or early 20s too. Most of the members are also studying at Kim Il-Sung University.

Punishment 

It can be noticed that every member of the group gives their best performance whenever they appear in any match in the 2018 Winter Olympics. This is because of the harsh punishment that awaits those who will not perform perfectly at the games.

Talking about their experience in the Olympics is also forbidden. In fact, in 2006, more than 20 squad members were reportedly sent to a prison camp after they talked about what they had seen in South Korea on a University Games tour.

Cheering Choreography

Their chant and movement are not like any other cheering that many have seen in any sports event. They sing and wave in a highly choreographed manner. In addition, they wear masks of a man believed to be the young Kim Il Sung, the leader of North Korea when it was established.

The squad relentlessly sang, clapped, wave, and danced in précised unison, even as the unified Korean team has lost it games in women's ice hockey match. Although their chants are totally incomprehensible to many, their cheering has gone viral on social media sites.

Isolation

North Korean cheering squad is under tight security before and after each game in the Olympics. When they are not cheering and waving the unification flag, they are ordered to stay in a ferry, called Mangyongbong 92. Unlike other participants in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, the North Korean ladies are staying in the ferry to avoid any contact with other people or too much exposure to South Korean culture. This is also to avoid any attempt to defect.

Local Reception

The cheerleading squad made their first appearance at the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea. At the time, local residents were thrilled of their arrival and greeted them at the port. In this year's games, not all find the group amusing. Some residents of PyeongChang are not charmed of the visit of  Kim Jong-un' sister, Kim Yo Jong, and the cheerleaders she brings along as the threat of nuclear annihilation from the regime continues.