Beautifully designed official 1988 Seoul Olympics torch, constructed of metal, copper, leather, and plastic, measuring 20″ in length and 4″ at its widest point, designed by Lee Woo-Sung and manufactured by Korea Explosives Co. Ltd. The handle is wrapped in brown leather with a ring above, inscribed, “Games of the XXIVth Olympiad Seoul 1988,” in English and Korean. The upper portion of the torch bears a colorful Olympic ring emblem and the top is engraved with an intricate dragon design symbolizing the harmony between East and West; based on the Chinese zodiac, the year 1988 was also the year of the dragon. During the 22–day relay, the Olympic flame traveled from the Greek capital of Athens to Korea’s southernmost point, Jeju Island, before making its way north to Seoul in a 4,167 km relay.
