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K-pop group Girls’Generation’s song was played in Beijing. |
 By Lee Hyo-won
Staff Reporter
Over the weekend, Koreans may have noticed something a little bit too familiar in the moment following the announcement of the nation's first 2008 Olympic gold medals: Korean pop songs by Lee Hyo-ri and Girls' Generation echoed through stadiums in Beijing.
Gold medallists, in addition to claiming the top prize, are granted rights to the ``stadium jukebox'' ― have their song of choice resound in the hall before the award ceremony. Swimmer Park Tae-hwan called for Girls' Generation's ``Girls' Generation'' and judoka Choi Min-ho requested Lee Hyo-ri's hit number ``10 Minutes.''
After securing his country's first Olympic swimming gold Sunday in the men's 400-meter freestyle round, the 19-year-old ``marine boy'' requested the debut piece by Girls' Generation.
``Park Tae-hwan and Girls' Generation once met at a charity event hosted by (Korean music channel) M.net,'' said the girl band's management SM Entertainment. ``Members of Girls' Generation were watching the swimming competition on TV and were surprised and amazed to hear their song. They were also ecstatic about Park's win.''
Saturday, after Choi, 28, claimed the top medal in the men's 60-kilogram class and shed hot tears of joy, sex symbol Lee Hyo-ri's song blazed through the speakers before Aegukga (the Korean national anthem).
``Lee Hyo-ri is very thankful to Choi Min-ho. Although she wasn't able to watch the match due to her performance schedule, she is very proud of Choi and wants to congratulate him,'' said Lee's management M.net Media.
hyowlee@koreatimes.co.kr
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