The 1988 Seoul Olympics were the largest Cold War-era Games by participating nations, marking South Korea's rise on the world stage just decades after the Korean War.
Key Facts
- Participating nations
- 159 nations
- Athletes
- 8,391 athletes
- Events contested
- 237 events
- Soviet Union gold medals
- 55 gold medals
- Soviet Union total medals
- 132 medals
- Host nation gold medals
- 12 gold medals
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the politically fractured 1980 Moscow and 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, each heavily boycotted along Cold War lines, Seoul was selected to host a Games that would draw near-universal participation. South Korea's rapid economic growth—the so-called 'Miracle on the Han River'—and its recent democratic transition after the June Democratic Struggle of 1987 set the stage for a showcase event.
From 17 September to 2 October 1988, the Games of the XXIV Olympiad were held in Seoul, South Korea, with 159 nations and 8,391 athletes competing across 237 events. Despite a partial boycott by North Korea and a small number of allies, the Games achieved the highest participation of any Cold War-era Olympics. The Soviet Union dominated the medal table with 55 gold and 132 total medals.
The Seoul Olympics elevated South Korea's international standing and became widely regarded as the symbolic peak of its postwar economic and democratic transformation. They were the last Games in which both the Soviet Union and East Germany competed as sovereign states, as both ceased to exist before the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The event also reinforced the IOC's effort to restore broad global participation after successive boycott-marred editions.
Result
at Seoul, South Korea